<p>Sometimes, it doesn’t take a lot to get inspired. A short bike ride to soak in the sun, a coffee break with a friend, or listening to your favorite song might be just what you need to <strong>spark some fresh ideas on a busy day</strong>. And if that doesn’t do the trick, we have a little extra inspiration boost for you: desktop wallpapers!</p> <p>For this post, artists and designers from across the globe once again <strong>challenged their creative skills</strong> and designed desktop wallpapers to cater for some fresh inspiration this May — just like it has been a <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/category/wallpapers">monthly tradition</a> here at Smashing Magazine for more than 14 years already. You’ll find their artworks compiled below, along with a selection of May favorites from our wallpapers archives that are just too good to be forgotten. A big thank-you to everyone who shared their designs with us this month — this post wouldn’t be possible without your wonderful support!</p> <p>If <em>you</em> too would like to <strong>get featured</strong> in one of our upcoming wallpapers posts, please don’t hesitate to <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-join-in/">submit your design</a>. We can’t wait to see what you’ll come up with! Happy May!</p> <ul> <li>You can <strong>click on every image to see a larger preview</strong>.</li> <li>We respect and carefully consider the ideas and motivation behind each and every artist’s work. This is why we give all artists the <strong>full freedom to explore their creativity</strong> and express emotions and experience through their works. This is also why the themes of the wallpapers weren’t anyhow influenced by us but rather designed from scratch by the artists themselves.</li> </ul> <p></p>Squeeze The Day<p></p> <p></p> <p>“Happy National Lemonade Day! Whether you like it sweet, tart, sparkling, or spiked — today’s the perfect excuse to pour yourself a glass of sunshine. Support a local lemonade stand, whip up your own zesty creation, or just soak in the summer vibes. However you sip it, make it refreshing, bold, and bright. Cheers to lemons and all the lemonade moments life brings!” — Designed by <a href="https://www.popwebdesign.net/">PopArt Studio</a> from Serbia.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/may-25-squeeze-the-day-full.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-25-squeeze-the-day-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/may-25-squeeze-the-day-preview.png">preview</a></li> <li>with calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/cal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-cal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/squeeze-the-day/nocal/may-25-squeeze-the-day-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>My Crazy Thoughts<p></p> <p></p> <p>“In this illustration, I want to express myself, just as I am, with all my upside-down, crazy thoughts. There are little things that make me happy: I love sitting quietly by the window and watching the rain. I enjoy watching the changes in the sky, the colors, and the clouds. It feels like every cloud says something to me, reminding me how important it is to give myself time. Nature always speaks to us through colors, shapes, and space. But nowadays, people are too busy — buying time, spending hours on movies and OTT platforms — always trying to prove themselves to others.
 We have forgotten how to simply be with ourselves, to connect with nature.” — Designed by <a href="https://www.designstudiouiux.com/">Design Studio</a> from India.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-full.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-preview.png">preview</a></li> <li>with calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/cal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-cal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/cal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-cal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/cal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-cal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/cal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-cal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/cal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-cal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/cal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-cal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/cal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-cal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/cal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-cal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/nocal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/nocal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-nocal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/nocal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/nocal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/nocal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/nocal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/nocal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-nocal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/my-crazy-thoughts/nocal/may-25-my-crazy-thoughts-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Lily Of The Valley<p></p> <p></p> <p>“In May, a very particular flower blooms, adorning the fields with little white bells. Associated with the first of May in France (‘la fête du travail’), the Lily of the Valley (‘muguet’ in French) is a very recognizable plant, and this one is entirely made of paper in the traditional papercraft art, without any glue, respecting nature in every way.” — Designed by <a href="https://gaae.design/">Caroline Boire</a> from France.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-full.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-preview.png">preview</a></li> <li>with calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-320x480.jpg">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-640x480.jpg">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-800x480.jpg">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-800x600.jpg">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1024x1024.jpg">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1152x864.jpg">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1280x720.jpg">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1280x960.jpg">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1400x1050.jpg">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/cal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-cal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-320x480.jpg">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-640x480.jpg">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-800x480.jpg">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-800x600.jpg">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1024x1024.jpg">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1152x864.jpg">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1280x720.jpg">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1280x960.jpg">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1400x1050.jpg">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/lily-of-the-valley/nocal/may-25-lily-of-the-valley-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>May The Fourth Be With You<p></p> <p></p> <p>“I love Star Wars and spring! I chose to combine those aesthetics to create a minimal wallpaper design for those who wanted a sweet memory of C3PO and R2D2. Culturally, I believe Star Wars is huge both nationally and internationally and teaches loads of good lessons, so what better theme to pull from! I also enjoy hand-drawn elements, so I drew this image with charcoal brushes in Procreate and then dropped it in as a jpeg.” — Designed by <a href="https://www.chloe-mills.com/">Chloe Mills</a> from Texas, United States.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-full.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-preview.png">preview</a></li> <li>with calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/cal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-cal-640x480.jpg">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/cal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-cal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/cal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-cal-1152x864.jpg">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/cal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-cal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/cal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-cal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/cal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-cal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/cal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-cal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/cal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-cal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/cal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-cal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/nocal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-nocal-640x480.jpg">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/nocal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/nocal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-nocal-1152x864.jpg">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/nocal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/nocal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/nocal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/nocal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/nocal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/nocal/may-25-may-the-fourth-be-with-you-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Ladies And Gentlemen<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by <a href="https://www.ricardogimenes.com/">Ricardo Gimenes</a> from Spain.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-full.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-preview.png">preview</a></li> <li>with calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1366x768.png">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/cal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-cal-3840x2160.png">3840x2160</a> </li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1366x768.png">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/ladies-and-gentlemen/nocal/may-25-ladies-and-gentlemen-nocal-3840x2160.png">3840x2160</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Through The Castle’s Eye<p></p> <p></p> <p>“Through a crumbling castle window, nature weaves its way back — framing a white house, green trees, and soft skies. A peaceful glimpse of history and new life intertwined.” — Designed by <a href="https://www.librafire.com/">LibraFire</a> from Serbia.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-full.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-preview.png">preview</a></li> <li>with calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1366x768.png">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/cal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-cal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1366x768.png">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/through-the-castles-eye/nocal/may-25-through-the-castles-eye-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Crayfish Party<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by <a href="https://www.ricardogimenes.com/">Ricardo Gimenes</a> from Spain.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/may-25-crayfish-party-full.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-25-crayfish-party-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/may-25-crayfish-party-preview.png">preview</a></li> <li>with calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1366x768.png">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/cal/may-25-crayfish-party-cal-3840x2160.png">3840x2160</a> </li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1366x768.png">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/crayfish-party/nocal/may-25-crayfish-party-nocal-3840x2160.png">3840x2160</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Under The Flower Moon<p></p> <p></p> <p>“Two ladybugs sat quietly on a flower, watching the Flower Moon rise high above. It was May, the time when blossoms wake and the moon whispers of new beginnings. Together, they listened.” — Designed by <a href="https://www.gingeritsolutions.com/">Ginger IT Solutions</a> from Serbia.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-full.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-preview.png">preview</a></li> <li>with calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/cal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-cal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/under-the-flower-moon/nocal/may-25-under-the-flower-moon-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>International Labour Day<p></p> <p></p> <p>“International Labour Day on May 1 celebrates the contributions and achievements of workers worldwide. Originating from 19th-century labor movements advocating for an eight-hour workday, it highlights the importance of fair wages, safe workplaces, and workers’ rights. Many countries hold events, parades, and rallies to honor this important day.” — Designed by <a href="https://www.designstudiouiux.com/">Design Studio</a> from India.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/may-25-international-labour-day-full.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-25-international-labour-day-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/may-25-international-labour-day-preview.png">preview</a></li> <li>with calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/cal/may-25-international-labour-day-cal-640x480.jpg">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/cal/may-25-international-labour-day-cal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/cal/may-25-international-labour-day-cal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/cal/may-25-international-labour-day-cal-1400x900.jpg">1400x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/cal/may-25-international-labour-day-cal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/cal/may-25-international-labour-day-cal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/cal/may-25-international-labour-day-cal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/cal/may-25-international-labour-day-cal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/cal/may-25-international-labour-day-cal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/cal/may-25-international-labour-day-cal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/nocal/may-25-international-labour-day-nocal-640x480.jpg">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/nocal/may-25-international-labour-day-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/nocal/may-25-international-labour-day-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/nocal/may-25-international-labour-day-nocal-1400x900.jpg">1400x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/nocal/may-25-international-labour-day-nocal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/nocal/may-25-international-labour-day-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/nocal/may-25-international-labour-day-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/nocal/may-25-international-labour-day-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/nocal/may-25-international-labour-day-nocal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-25/international-labour-day/nocal/may-25-international-labour-day-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Hello May<p></p> <p></p> <p>“The longing for warmth, flowers in bloom, and new beginnings is finally over as we welcome the month of May. From celebrating nature on the days of turtles and birds to marking the days of our favorite wine and macarons, the historical celebrations of the International Workers’ Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Victory Day, to the unforgettable ‘May the Fourth be with you’. May is a time of celebration — so make every May day count!” — Designed by <a href="https://www.popwebdesign.net/logo-design-novisad.html">PopArt Studio</a> from Serbia.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2023/may-22-hello-may-nocal-full-opt.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2023/may-22-hello-may-nocal-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2023/may-22-hello-may-nocal-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-320x480.jpg">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-640x480.jpg">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-800x480.jpg">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-800x600.jpg">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1024x1024.jpg">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1152x864.jpg">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1280x720.jpg">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1280x960.jpg">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1366x768.jpg">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1440x1050.jpg">1440x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/hello-may/nocal/may-22-hello-may-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Navigating The Amazon<p></p> <p></p> <p>“We are in May, the spring month par excellence, and we celebrate it in the Amazon jungle.” — Designed by <a href="https://www.silocreativo.com/en">Veronica Valenzuela Jimenez</a> from Spain.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-full-opt.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/navigating-the-amazon/nocal/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/navigating-the-amazon/nocal/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/navigating-the-amazon/nocal/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/navigating-the-amazon/nocal/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/navigating-the-amazon/nocal/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/navigating-the-amazon/nocal/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/navigating-the-amazon/nocal/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/navigating-the-amazon/nocal/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/navigating-the-amazon/nocal/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/navigating-the-amazon/nocal/may-24-navigating-the-amazon-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Bat Traffic<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by <a href="https://www.ricardogimenes.com/">Ricardo Gimenes</a> from Sweden.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-24-bat-traffic-full-opt.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-24-bat-traffic-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-24-bat-traffic-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1366x768.png">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/bat-traffic/nocal/may-24-bat-traffic-nocal-3840x2160.png">3840x2160</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Understand Yourself<p></p> <p></p> <p>“Sunsets in May are the best way to understand who you are and where you are heading. Let’s think more!” — Designed by <a href="https://izhik.com/">Igor Izhik</a> from Canada.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/17fac211-eec5-4c00-975c-3f08f521948d/may-16-understand-yourself-full-opt.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/6a44c529-60bb-4ad2-812d-fd3d7b6347a6/may-16-understand-yourself-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/6a44c529-60bb-4ad2-812d-fd3d7b6347a6/may-16-understand-yourself-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-1280x720.jpg">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-1280x960.jpg">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-1400x1050.jpg">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/understand-yourself/nocal/may-16-understand-yourself-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Poppies Paradise<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by <a href="https://www.nathalieouederni.com/">Nathalie Ouederni</a> from France.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/a9c5cbab-479f-456f-acc7-bd58a731ff93/may-16-poppies-paradise-full-opt.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/bf91eec5-9d10-4290-96ae-c4261ace5321/may-16-poppies-paradise-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/bf91eec5-9d10-4290-96ae-c4261ace5321/may-16-poppies-paradise-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/poppies-paradise/nocal/may-16-poppies-paradise-nocal-320x480.jpg">320x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/poppies-paradise/nocal/may-16-poppies-paradise-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/poppies-paradise/nocal/may-16-poppies-paradise-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/poppies-paradise/nocal/may-16-poppies-paradise-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/poppies-paradise/nocal/may-16-poppies-paradise-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/poppies-paradise/nocal/may-16-poppies-paradise-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/poppies-paradise/nocal/may-16-poppies-paradise-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>The Mushroom Band<p></p> <p></p> <p>“My daughter asked me to draw a band of mushrooms. Here it is!” — Designed by <a href="https://vlad.studio/">Vlad Gerasimov</a> from Georgia.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2024/may-23-the-mushroom-band-full-opt.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2024/may-23-the-mushroom-band-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2024/may-23-the-mushroom-band-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-800x480.jpg">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-800x600.jpg">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1024x600.jpg">1024x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1152x864.jpg">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1280x720.jpg">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1280x960.jpg">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1366x768.jpg">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1400x1050.jpg">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1440x960.jpg">1440x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1600x900.jpg">1600x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-2560x1600.jpg">2560x1600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-2880x1800.jpg">2880x1800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-3072x1920.jpg">3072x1920</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-3840x2160.jpg">3840x2160</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/the-mushroom-band/nocal/may-23-the-mushroom-band-nocal-5120x2880.jpg">5120x2880</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>April Showers Bring Magnolia Flowers<p></p> <p></p> <p>“April and May are usually when everything starts to bloom, especially the magnolia trees. I live in an area where there are many and when the wind blows, the petals make it look like snow is falling.” — Designed by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarmas23/">Sarah Masucci</a> from the United States.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/ee13fc1e-616a-4805-9d29-f9b8ed28ff1b/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-full-opt.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/bf059fd3-dbd8-4270-b9ed-70e1a0019e4c/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/bf059fd3-dbd8-4270-b9ed-70e1a0019e4c/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-320x480.jpg">320x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-640x480.jpg">640x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-800x480.jpg">800x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-800x600.jpg">800x600</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1024x1024.jpg">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1152x864.jpg">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1280x720.jpg">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1280x960.jpg">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1400x1050.jpg">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-19/april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers/nocal/may-19-april-showers-bring-magnolia-flowers-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>ARRR2-D2<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by <a href="https://www.ricardogimenes.com/">Ricardo Gimenes</a> from Sweden.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2024/may-23-arrr2-d2-full-opt.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2024/may-23-arrr2-d2-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2024/may-23-arrr2-d2-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1366x768.png">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/arrr2-d2/nocal/may-23-arrr2-d2-nocal-3840x2160.png">3840x2160</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Add Color To Your Life!<p></p> <p></p> <p>“This month is dedicated to flowers, to join us and brighten our days giving a little more color to our daily life.” — Designed by <a href="https://www.silocreativo.com/en/">Verónica Valenzuela</a> from Spain.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/4255684a-cead-4db8-90c5-e891a148a79f/may-16-add-color-to-your-life-full-opt.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/232649eb-ba07-4c5f-8af4-6458d6ed1f1b/may-16-add-color-to-your-life-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/232649eb-ba07-4c5f-8af4-6458d6ed1f1b/may-16-add-color-to-your-life-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/add-color-to-your-life/nocal/may-16-add-color-to-your-life-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/add-color-to-your-life/nocal/may-16-add-color-to-your-life-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/add-color-to-your-life/nocal/may-16-add-color-to-your-life-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/add-color-to-your-life/nocal/may-16-add-color-to-your-life-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/add-color-to-your-life/nocal/may-16-add-color-to-your-life-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/add-color-to-your-life/nocal/may-16-add-color-to-your-life-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/add-color-to-your-life/nocal/may-16-add-color-to-your-life-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/add-color-to-your-life/nocal/may-16-add-color-to-your-life-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/add-color-to-your-life/nocal/may-16-add-color-to-your-life-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Lake Deck<p></p> <p></p> <p>“I wanted to make a big painterly vista with some mountains and a deck and such.” — Designed by <a href="https://www.ultravulture.xyz/">Mike Healy</a> from Australia.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/5a8bed12-4cbc-4b8c-bc6a-29f06546b065/may-18-lake-deck-full-opt.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/9bf65a30-3cc8-4130-a166-9da219b32153/may-18-lake-deck-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/9bf65a30-3cc8-4130-a166-9da219b32153/may-18-lake-deck-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/lake-deck/nocal/may-18-lake-deck-nocal-1280x960.jpg">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/lake-deck/nocal/may-18-lake-deck-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/lake-deck/nocal/may-18-lake-deck-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/lake-deck/nocal/may-18-lake-deck-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/lake-deck/nocal/may-18-lake-deck-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/lake-deck/nocal/may-18-lake-deck-nocal-2560x1600.jpg">2560x1600</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/lake-deck/nocal/may-18-lake-deck-nocal-2880x1800.jpg">2880x1800</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Tentacles<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by <a href="https://www.datcha.ca/la_datcha/">Julie Lapointe</a> from Canada.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/90635f36-74f1-40b0-9e50-89f58797b569/may-12-tentacles-36-full.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/3dd1179a-2295-4645-b45b-5d0c4dfa185a/may-12-tentacles-36-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/3dd1179a-2295-4645-b45b-5d0c4dfa185a/may-12-tentacles-36-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-tentacles__36-nocal-320x480.jpg">320x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-tentacles__36-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-tentacles__36-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-tentacles__36-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-tentacles__36-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-tentacles__36-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-tentacles__36-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Today, Yesterday, Or Tomorrow<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by <a href="https://instagram.com/almahoffmann">Alma Hoffmann</a> from the United States.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2023/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-full-opt.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2023/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2023/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-20/today-yesterday-or-tomorrow/nocal/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-20/today-yesterday-or-tomorrow/nocal/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-1024x1024.jpg">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-20/today-yesterday-or-tomorrow/nocal/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-20/today-yesterday-or-tomorrow/nocal/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-20/today-yesterday-or-tomorrow/nocal/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-1366x768.jpg">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-20/today-yesterday-or-tomorrow/nocal/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-20/today-yesterday-or-tomorrow/nocal/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-20/today-yesterday-or-tomorrow/nocal/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-20/today-yesterday-or-tomorrow/nocal/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-20/today-yesterday-or-tomorrow/nocal/may-20-today-yesterday-or-tomorrow-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>The Monolith<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by <a href="https://www.ricardogimenes.com/">Ricardo Gimenes</a> from Sweden.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2023/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-full-opt.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2023/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2023/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1366x768.png">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/the-monolith/nocal/may-22-the-monolith-nocal-3840x2160.png">3840x2160</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Asparagus Say Hi!<p></p> <p></p> <p>“In my part of the world, May marks the start of seasonal produce, starting with asparagus. I know spring is finally here and summer is around the corner when locally-grown asparagus shows up at the grocery store.” — Designed by <a href="https://www.elainechen.com/">Elaine Chen</a> from Toronto, Canada.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/aabebe55-e761-464a-89cb-50e01f7d7e1a/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-full-opt.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/4645119c-bad7-4818-8942-d15ca3f9a1f8/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/4645119c-bad7-4818-8942-d15ca3f9a1f8/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-320x480.jpg">320x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-800x480.jpg">800x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-800x600.jpg">800x600</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1024x1024.jpg">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1152x864.jpg">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1280x720.jpg">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1280x960.jpg">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1366x768.jpg">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1400x1050.jpg">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-16/asparagus-say-hi/nocal/may-16-asparagus-say-hi-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Spring Gracefulness<p></p> <p></p> <p>“We don’t usually count the breaths we take, but observing nature in May, we can’t count our breaths being taken away.” — Designed by <a href="https://www.creitive.com/">Ana Masnikosa</a> from Belgrade, Serbia.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/f44085ec-427f-43b2-9e3d-f0073d21486e/may-17-spring-gracefulness-full-opt.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/1feda6da-f329-496d-8aab-94d38cd68b90/may-17-spring-gracefulness-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/1feda6da-f329-496d-8aab-94d38cd68b90/may-17-spring-gracefulness-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/spring-gracefulness/nocal/may-17-spring-gracefulness-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Blooming May<p></p> <p></p> <p>“In spring, especially in May, we all want bright colors and lightness, which was not there in winter.” — Designed by <a href="https://masterbundles.com/">MasterBundles</a> from Ukraine.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2023/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-full-opt.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2023/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2023/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1366x768.png">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-22/blooming-may/nocal/may-22-blooming-may-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Enjoy May!<p></p> <p></p> <p>“Springtime, especially May, is my favorite time of the year. And I like popsicles — so it’s obvious isn’t it?” — Designed by Steffen Weiß from Germany.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/ec15f840-7895-49f3-9792-ac409bb8119c/may-15-enjoy-may-full-opt.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/6b2b9d54-a7e9-4848-ba1b-2e0bbea22e95/may-15-enjoy-may-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/6b2b9d54-a7e9-4848-ba1b-2e0bbea22e95/may-15-enjoy-may-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-320x480.jpg">320x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-640x480.jpg">640x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-800x480.jpg">800x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-800x600.jpg">800x600</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1024x1024.jpg">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1152x864.jpg">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1280x720.jpg">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1280x960.jpg">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1400x1050.jpg">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/enjoy-may/nocal/may-15-enjoy-may-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Geo<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by Amanda Focht from the United States.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/e6aad900-2c45-4d09-8d8f-63d3a7e6c4d6/may-18-geo-full-opt.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/bb0c1df9-2698-41a7-9234-8ce0a987121f/may-18-geo-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/bb0c1df9-2698-41a7-9234-8ce0a987121f/may-18-geo-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1366x768.png">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-18/geo/nocal/may-18-geo-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Be On Your Bike!<p></p> <p></p> <p>“May is National Bike Month! So, instead of hopping in your car, grab your bike and go. Our whole family loves that we live in our bike-friendly community. So, bike to work, to school, to the store, or to the park — sometimes it is faster. Not only is it good for the environment, but it is great exercise!” — Designed by <a href="https://www.codesign.cc/">Karen Frolo</a> from the United States.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/43e8ce22-bbe5-4111-bc9b-251371b5d371/may-17-be-on-your-bike-full.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/e76c8b69-c631-447f-b8ae-d35ab9cf365e/may-17-be-on-your-bike-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/e76c8b69-c631-447f-b8ae-d35ab9cf365e/may-17-be-on-your-bike-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1024x1024.jpg">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1280x960.jpg">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1366x768.jpg">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-17/be-on-your-bike/nocal/may-17-be-on-your-bike-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Duck<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/scott.m1089?igsh=endod2drNGMzMW9m&amp;utm_source=qr">Madeline Scott</a> from the United States.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-24-duck-full-opt.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-24-duck-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-24-duck-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/duck/nocal/may-24-duck-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Flying In The Air<p></p> <p></p> <p>“We recently changed our workplace and now we’re in a windy place, so we like the idea of flying in the air, somehow.” — Designed by <a href="https://www.monksoftware.it/">Monk Software</a> from Italy.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/1050f50b-0064-4247-aa2a-f474b65eb191/may-14-monkgolfier-full-opt.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/b554f32a-777c-420b-9381-2a3ad1c8ca6d/may-14-monkgolfier-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/b554f32a-777c-420b-9381-2a3ad1c8ca6d/may-14-monkgolfier-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/monkgolfier/nocal/may-14-monkgolfier-nocal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/monkgolfier/nocal/may-14-monkgolfier-nocal-960x640.png">960x640</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/monkgolfier/nocal/may-14-monkgolfier-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/monkgolfier/nocal/may-14-monkgolfier-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/monkgolfier/nocal/may-14-monkgolfier-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/monkgolfier/nocal/may-14-monkgolfier-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/monkgolfier/nocal/may-14-monkgolfier-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>May Your May Be Magnificent<p></p> <p></p> <p>“May should be as bright and colorful as this calendar! That’s why our designers chose these juicy colors.” — Designed by <a href="https://masterbundles.com/">MasterBundles</a> from Ukraine.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2024/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-full-opt.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2024/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2024/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1366x768.png">1366x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-23/may-your-may-be-magnificent/nocal/may-23-may-your-may-be-magnificent-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Popping Into Spring<p></p> <p></p> <p>“Spring has sprung, and what better metaphor than toast popping up and out of a fun-colored toaster!” — Designed by <a href="https://mu-art.org/stephanieklemick/">Stephanie Klemick</a> from Emmaus Pennsylvania, USA.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-24-popping-into-spring-full-opt.png"><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-24-popping-into-spring-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://files.smashing.media/articles/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-may-2025/may-24-popping-into-spring-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-24/popping-into-spring/nocal/may-24-popping-into-spring-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Make A Wish<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by <a href="https://www.behance.net/juliaversinina">Julia Versinina</a> from Chicago, USA.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/77e2fb80-d494-4601-93a7-d109072e502a/may-15-make-a-wish-full-opt.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/3c0be6e7-ec80-4da9-b230-fdf54d63a878/may-15-make-a-wish-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/3c0be6e7-ec80-4da9-b230-fdf54d63a878/may-15-make-a-wish-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-320x480.jpg">320x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-640x480.jpg">640x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-800x480.jpg">800x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-800x600.jpg">800x600</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1024x1024.jpg">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1152x864.jpg">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1280x720.jpg">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1280x960.jpg">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1600x1200.jpg">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-1920x1440.jpg">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-15/make-a-wish/nocal/may-15-make-a-wish-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>The Green Bear<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by Pedro Rolo from Portugal.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/d792a713-a97f-419a-b0e6-0a1243710ce9/may-13-green-bear-full.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/d4fb947b-c824-4176-b4aa-e93416466ffa/may-13-green-bear-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/d4fb947b-c824-4176-b4aa-e93416466ffa/may-13-green-bear-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-13/the-green-bear/may-13-Green%20Bear-nocal-1024x768.jpg">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-13/the-green-bear/may-13-Green%20Bear-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-13/the-green-bear/may-13-Green%20Bear-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-13/the-green-bear/may-13-Green%20Bear-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-13/the-green-bear/may-13-Green%20Bear-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-13/the-green-bear/may-13-Green%20Bear-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Birds Of May<p></p> <p></p> <p>“Inspired by a little-known ‘holiday’ on May 4th known as ‘Bird Day’. It is the first holiday in the United States celebrating birds. Hurray for birds!” — Designed by <a href="https://www.iwantclarity.com/">Clarity Creative Group</a> from Orlando, FL.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/cd072497-e15f-4edc-bd47-ea121d7b2a45/may-14-bird-day-full-opt.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/2fe8b679-631f-4f87-916c-8858285564cb/may-14-bird-day-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/2fe8b679-631f-4f87-916c-8858285564cb/may-14-bird-day-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-320x480.png">320x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-640x480.png">640x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-640x960.png">640x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-640x1136.png">640x1136</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-800x480.png">800x480</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-800x600.png">800x600</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1024x768.png">1024x768</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1024x1024.png">1024x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1152x864.png">1152x864</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1280x720.png">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1280x800.png">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1280x960.png">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1280x1024.png">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1400x1050.png">1400x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1440x900.png">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1600x1200.png">1600x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1680x1050.png">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1680x1200.png">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1920x1080.png">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1920x1200.png">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-1920x1440.png">1920x1440</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/bird-day/nocal/may-14-bird-day-nocal-2560x1440.png">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul> <p></p>Beautiful Things<p></p> <p></p> <p>Designed by <a href="https://www.doud.be/">Elise Vanoorbeek</a> from Belgium.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/21469886-771c-4077-ba84-0df129aa7133/may-14-beautiful-things-full.png"><img src="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/85846408-9120-44a1-b754-bc3c57b062e2/may-14-beautiful-things-preview-opt.png"></a><p></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/85846408-9120-44a1-b754-bc3c57b062e2/may-14-beautiful-things-preview-opt.png">preview</a></li> <li>without calendar: <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/beautiful-things/nocal/may-14-beautiful-things-nocal-1280x720.jpg">1280x720</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/beautiful-things/nocal/may-14-beautiful-things-nocal-1280x800.jpg">1280x800</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/beautiful-things/nocal/may-14-beautiful-things-nocal-1280x960.jpg">1280x960</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/beautiful-things/nocal/may-14-beautiful-things-nocal-1280x1024.jpg">1280x1024</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/beautiful-things/nocal/may-14-beautiful-things-nocal-1440x1050.jpg">1440x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/beautiful-things/nocal/may-14-beautiful-things-nocal-1440x900.jpg">1440x900</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/beautiful-things/nocal/may-14-beautiful-things-nocal-1680x1050.jpg">1680x1050</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/beautiful-things/nocal/may-14-beautiful-things-nocal-1680x1200.jpg">1680x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/beautiful-things/nocal/may-14-beautiful-things-nocal-1920x1080.jpg">1920x1080</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/beautiful-things/nocal/may-14-beautiful-things-nocal-1920x1200.jpg">1920x1200</a>, <a href="https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-14/beautiful-things/nocal/may-14-beautiful-things-nocal-2560x1440.jpg">2560x1440</a> </li> </ul>

<p>This article is a sponsored by <a href="https://www.animaapp.com/">Anima App</a></p> <p>For years, designers and developers have been stuck in a frustrating loop. Designers create stunning UIs in Figma, only for developers to spend hours — or days — coding them from scratch. Along the way, details get lost, tweaks pile up, and before you know it, the whole process turns into a never-ending back-and-forth.</p> <p>It’s a tale as old as modern product teams: pixel-perfect designs turned into imperfect realities, timelines stretched by repetitive tasks, and collaboration slowed by tool mismatches. Designers work in one world, developers in another — and the bridge between them has always been shaky at best.</p> <p>But what if you could just… skip the painful part? </p> <p>That’s where <a href="https://dev.animaapp.com/">Anima Playground</a> comes in. It’s a tool that transforms your Figma designs into fully functional web apps automatically. No more pixel-matching marathons, no more manual UI rebuilding. Just a smoother, faster way to go from a design to a live product — with AI doing the heavy lifting.</p> What Is Anima Playground? <p>Anima Playground is an AI-powered development environment that makes the jump from design to code seamless. It turns your Figma designs into clean, editable, and production-ready React components — instantly. And unlike static design-to-code tools of the past, this one goes further: it lets you add business logic, connect to APIs, and preview real-time changes right inside the playground.</p> <p>In short: it's not just a handoff tool. It's where design becomes a working app.</p> <p><strong>Here’s what you can do with Anima Playground:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Import Figma designs exactly as they were created — layouts, styles, responsiveness, and all.</li> <li>Generate React components instantly, with support for libraries like MUI and shadcn/ui.</li> <li>Use AI prompts to add logic — from button clicks to dynamic lists and form validation.</li> <li>Customize everything, with full code access and live previews.</li> </ul> How It Works <p>Easily sync your Figma designs with Anima Playground. All it takes is four quick steps.</p> <h3>1. Import Your Figma Designs</h3> <p>No clunky exports, no third-party converters. Just paste your Figma link, and Anima syncs it directly. It preserves layout, typography, responsiveness, and component structure, exactly as designed.</p> <p>This step sets the foundation: Anima translates your Figma layers into React code, respecting design fidelity down to the pixel. Designers can rest easy knowing their UI won’t get “lost in translation.”</p> <h3>2. Convert Designs Into React Components</h3> <p>Once imported, your Figma designs are instantly transformed into React components. This includes:</p> <ul> <li>Clean JSX structure</li> <li>Tailwind, MUI, or shadcn/ui styling (you choose!)</li> <li>Nested component trees</li> <li>Auto-handling of responsive layouts</li> </ul> <p>You can switch between UI libraries with a simple prompt or setting change — no need to rewrite everything manually. Whether you're building a startup landing page or a complex dashboard, the output is dev-ready and easy to extend.</p> <h3>3. Add Logic With AI-Powered Prompts</h3> <p>Want a button to open a modal? Or a form that sends data to an API? You don’t need to write all that boilerplate yourself.</p> <p>Just describe what you want using natural language — for example:</p> <blockquote><p>“Make this button open a signup modal.”</p></blockquote> <p>Anima’s AI will generate the underlying code for you — complete with state management, handlers, and reusable logic. You can always dive in and tweak the output to fit your specific app structure.</p> <p>This turns design into functional UI with a level of speed that traditional front-end workflows just can’t match.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/anima-playground-figma-designs-live-apps/use-ai-promts.png"></p> <h3>4. See Live Changes Instantly</h3> <p>As you make changes — whether through prompts or direct code edits — you see them reflected in real-time. Anima Playground acts as a visual IDE, combining the flexibility of code with the immediacy of design tools.</p> <p>This live feedback loop means less context-switching and faster iterations. Whether you’re testing animations, layout tweaks, or new features, you get to <em>see it</em> before you commit to anything.</p> More Than Just Design-to-Code <p>While many tools promise “Figma to code,” <strong>Anima Playground goes beyond static conversion</strong>. It’s a fully interactive environment where real apps are born — with logic, data, and interactivity.</p> <p><strong>Some powerful features include:</strong></p> <ul> <li> <strong>One-click AI suggestions</strong> to enhance your UI with logic.</li> <li> <strong>Custom component support</strong>, allowing teams to inject their own building blocks.</li> <li> <strong>Component reuse</strong>, letting you structure apps in a scalable way.</li> <li> <strong>Flexible framework support</strong>, starting with React and planning to support more in the future.</li> </ul> <p>It’s not just for prototyping — it’s for building.</p> Why It Matters <p>The design-to-code handoff has been broken for too long. Anima Playground isn’t just another tool. It’s a game-changer. Here’s why:</p> <ul> <li>🚀 Speed<br>What used to take days now takes minutes. You skip the repetitive coding, layout guesswork, and context switching.</li> <li>🎯 Accuracy<br>Your designs stay true to the original. No more pixel-matching or guessing which font size the designer used.</li> <li>🧩 Flexibility<br>Developers get full access to the code. It's not a black box — it's fully transparent and editable.</li> <li>🤝 Collaboration<br>Designers and developers finally share the same playground — literally. This tightens feedback loops and shortens build cycles.</li> </ul> <p>By making the workflow smarter, <strong>Anima Playground helps teams build better products, faster</strong>, and with fewer headaches.</p> Who Is It For? <p>Whether you’re a <strong>designer</strong>, <strong>developer</strong>, <strong>startup founder</strong>, or <strong>PM</strong>, Anima Playground removes the barriers between your ideas and real products.</p> <ul> <li> <strong>Designers</strong> can see their visions come to life, exactly as imagined.</li> <li> <strong>Developers</strong> can skip the grunt work and focus on logic, architecture, and business needs.</li> <li> <strong>Teams</strong> can work together in a unified environment — no more waiting for the “handoff.”</li> </ul> <p>It’s perfect for building landing pages, dashboards, internal tools, MVPs, and more.</p> <h3>Are You Ready To Try It?</h3> <p>Anima Playground and the Anima API are redefining the connection between design and development in the era of AI-powered coding. Whether you're a designer, developer, product team member, marketer, or entrepreneur, Anima empowers you to transform visual ideas into concepts within minutes—and into fully functional products within hours.</p> <p>If you’re tired of the endless design-to-development grind, <a href="https://projects.animaapp.com/signup">it’s time to give Anima Playground a spin</a>. Whether you’re a designer who wants to bring your vision to life or a developer looking to speed up the build process, this tool has your back.</p> <p>Let your designs do more than look good — let them <em>work</em>!</p>

<p>Are you also <strong>getting lost</strong> in all the files, deliverables, shared docs, PDFs, and reports related to your UX work? What about decisions scattered everywhere between email, Slack conversations, Dropbox folders, SharePoint, Notion, and Figma?</p> <p>It’s too easy to lose important assets and too difficult to find them just when you need them. While we often speak about <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vitalyfriedman_design-figma-activity-7152988603072020480-uQrb/">how to neatly organize Figma files</a>, we rarely discuss a <strong>sensible folder structure</strong> for all our UX assets. Well, let’s change that.</p> <p>(If you're looking for more insights into design patterns or measuring UX, take a look at <a href="https://smart-interface-design-patterns.com/">Smart Interface Design Patterns</a> and <a href="https://measure-ux.com/">How To Measure UX</a>, <strong>friendly video courses on design patterns and UX</strong>, with a <a href="https://smashingconf.com/online-workshops/workshops/vitaly-friedman-impact-design/">live UX training</a> coming up in a few weeks.)</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/ux-design-files-organization-template/1-ux-design-files-orginization-template.jpg"></p> Organization Starter Kit (Free Template) <p>A while back, I stumbled upon a neat <a href="https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/how-to-organize-internal-design-documents-so-you-can-manage-projects-with-precision-bf658c9d0e7">organizational starter kit</a> by Courtney Pester. It’s an incredibly thorough <strong>setup template</strong> to get started with and build upon. Surely your projects will require a customized setup, but it will get you running fairly quickly.</p> <ul> <li> <a href="https://miro.medium.com/v2/1*LkE90fMfEEvbg5jUsfiHoQ.png">Full structure preview</a> (PNG)</li> <li><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C6bAxUEu0KWOzlKjoofR9eVQuKDh2KM5lbcqd9ISzPk/edit?tab=t.0">Google Doc template</a></li> <li><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g6YBwtbbd4ImBhozpSEIzXBbH82JhKdT/view">Compressed .zip file folder structure</a></li> </ul> <p>In the article, Courtney suggests breaking down all assets and resources into <strong>7 main categories</strong> — all representing distinct parts of the project lifecycle, and neatly broken down into sub-folders:</p> <ol> <li>Client resources,</li> <li>Research &amp; synthesis,</li> <li>Concept ideation &amp; testing,</li> <li>Wireframes &amp; prototypes,</li> <li>Meeting artifacts,</li> <li>Final deliverables,</li> <li>UI + Dev handoffs.</li> </ol> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/ux-design-files-organization-template/2-table-of-contents.png"></p> <p>Every project starts by duplicating the same main <strong>folder template</strong> and adjusting it for the needs of the project. Most importantly, we choose a <strong>central place</strong> where all key assets have to be located — be it Notion, Google Drive, Dropbox, or anything else. If an important detail lands in your email or is sent to you via Slack, it has to end up in that shared space.</p> <p>I really can’t emphasize enough the importance of having a <strong>shared understanding</strong> about where the files will be stored and how they will be accessed. Proper organization of assets <strong>will not happen automatically</strong> — usually, it requires effort and commitment from the entire team to ensure that it doesn't become a place with some bits and pieces, while other critical details and decisions are scattered all over other channels.</p> <p>Now, when we bring all documents and artefacts together, we end up with a quite lengthy but also <strong>comprehensive folder structure</strong>:</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/ux-design-files-organization-template/4-comprehensive-folder-structure.png"></p> <p>It might appear quite daunting at first, but of course, the overall structure would change quite significantly depending on what exactly you are working on. </p> Beware Of Duplications <p>Probably the most underrated problem in any type of file structure organization is duplication and versioning. Before we start the project, we need to be very clear about what types of files should end up in the shared drive and which shouldn't. You might or might not need intermediate versions of some documents, but you definitely want to keep the final ones.</p> <p>These are typically the questions I would be raising:</p> <ul> <li> <strong>Do we need to restrict access</strong> to some sections of the folder (e.g., sensitive data)?</li> <li> <strong>What naming conventions</strong> do we use for files/folders (e.g,. semantic versioning, V1, V2, --FINAL)</li> <li> <strong>How do we manage deprecated or outdated files?</strong> Do we archive or delete them?</li> <li> <strong>What would be the main communication channel</strong> for stakeholders/clients?</li> <li> <strong>Are there any legal requirements</strong> for storing and sharing some specific files?</li> <li> <strong>What will happen to the shared space</strong> once the project has finished?</li> </ul> <p>Frankly, the reason why I raise these questions isn't only to make decisions and create some shared conventions in the team. A much more important goal is to strengthen <strong>communication channels</strong> and <strong>raise awareness</strong>. We want to establish a shared commitment and ownership over that space — mostly to avoid any key decisions falling through the cracks, resulting in severe delays, costs, or cutting corners.</p> Secure But Easy To Access <p>It might sound obvious, but worth emphasizing: if the shared space is difficult to use, it will not be used. That’s when people will find workarounds to store some of “their” assets in spaces that are more convenient to use — with pieces of information scattered all over different channels.</p> <p>The shared space has to be <strong>easily accessible</strong> for everyone who should be able to access and maintain it. We most certainly want to stay secure, but setting up a multi-layered authentication process with Yubikey and a virtual machine is unnecessary.</p> <p>For most situations, a <strong>password/passkey + 2FA</strong> (2-Factor-Authentication) would be perfectly enough.</p> The Drawbacks Of The Tree Structure <p>Personally, I do have a small issue with the tree structure. Although it neatly organizes all artefacts in folders, it doesn’t really reflect the project timeline. But different assets are more important at different times of a project lifecycle. And: there are typically dependencies between different parts of a project, so it might also be a good idea to <strong>break down by time</strong> or at least <strong>tag by milestones</strong>.</p> <p>For example, we might want to <strong>look up research insights</strong> related to a specific part of the project. Or review the video from usability sessions when a specific iteration was tested. Doing so with a high-level tree structure can be a bit challenging and time-consuming.</p> <p>When organizing artefacts, I try to follow one single principle: <strong>put things that belong together close to each other</strong>. Typically, it means having a high-level structure with key iterations, broken down by milestones. It can live in Notion or in Miro, with each milestone linked to a Figma mock-up (<em>not uploaded .fig files!</em>).</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/ux-design-files-organization-template/3-templates-ux-research-work.png"></p> Useful Tools To Organize UX Work <p>There are plenty of wonderful tools to help you organize and share your UX work as well:</p> <ul> <li> <a href="http://dovetail.com/">Dovetail</a> to gather customer insights in one place,</li> <li> <a href="https://www.userinterviews.com/">UserInterviews</a> for recruiting and research work,</li> <li> <a href="https://maze.co/">Maze</a> is another great UX research platform,</li> <li> <a href="https://glean.ly/">Glean.ly</a> to use as an atomic research repository,</li> <li> <a href="https://www.notion.so/">Notion</a> and <a href="https://www.airtable.com/">AirTable</a> for quick look-ups of all files.</li> </ul> <p>And: don’t feel compelled to replicate any file structure entirely. Use it as a foundation to be inspired by and build upon. Customize away for the specific needs of your projects and your team. <strong>What works for you works for you.</strong> There is really no perfect and universal way that works out of the box.</p> <p>How do you organize your files and assets? What folder structures and organization systems do you use? Share what works best for you and your team in the comments below.</p> <p>Happy organizing, everyone!</p> Useful Resources <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vitalyfriedman_design-figma-activity-7152988603072020480-uQrb/">How To Organize Figma Files</a> by Lee Munroe</li> <li> <a href="https://odettejansen.medium.com/utilising-notion-as-your-ux-research-repository-005c7dc36726">How To Build A User Research Database (Notion Template)</a> by Odette Jansen</li> <li> <a href="https://uxinsight.org/how-to-build-a-ux-research-role-practice-from-scratch/">How To Build Up UX Research From Scratch (+ Templates)</a> by Ori Dar</li> <li> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vitalyfriedman_ux-design-activity-7218878275027116032-33UX/">Starter Kits For Design Leads</a> </li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vitalyfriedman_ux-templates-notion-activity-7039900781004607488-eyVa/">Useful Notion Templates</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vitalyfriedman_ux-design-miro-activity-7030171852110995456-aowy/">Useful Miro Templates</a> </li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vitalyfriedman_ux-design-figma-activity-7206915952234369025-SzYm/">Useful Figjam Templates</a></li> </ul> New: How To Measure UX And Design Impact <p>Meet <a href="https://measure-ux.com/">Measure UX &amp; Design Impact</a> (8h), a new practical guide for designers and UX leads to measure, track, show and report the <strong>impact of your incredible UX work</strong> on business. Use the code <a href="https://measure-ux.com/">IMPACT</a> 🎟 to <strong>save 20% off today</strong>. <a href="https://measure-ux.com/">Jump to the details</a>.</p> <a href="https://measure-ux.com/"> <img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/ux-metrics-video-course-release/measure-ux-and-design-impact-course.png"></a> <div><div> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/#"> Video + UX Training</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/#">Video only</a></li> </ul> <div> <h3>Video + UX Training</h3>$ 495.00 $ 799.00 <a href="https://smart-interface-design-patterns.thinkific.com/enroll/3081832?price_id=3951439"> Get Video + UX Training<div></div></a><p>25 video lessons (8h) + <a href="https://smashingconf.com/online-workshops/workshops/vitaly-friedman-impact-design/">Live UX Training</a>.<br>100 days money-back-guarantee.</p> </div> <div> <h3>Video only</h3> <div>$ 250.00$ 395.00</div> <a href="https://smart-interface-design-patterns.thinkific.com/enroll/3081832?price_id=3950630"> Get the video course<div></div></a><p>25 video lessons (8h). Updated yearly.<br>Also available as a <a href="https://smart-interface-design-patterns.thinkific.com/enroll/3082557?price_id=3951421">UX Bundle with 2 video courses.</a></p> </div> </div></div>

<p>When building digital products, thinking in terms of single features and urgent client needs can lead to a large portfolio of products with <strong>high maintenance costs</strong>. At first, this approach makes sense, as you’re offering new value to customers and keeping important clients happy. But, over time, you often end up with a collection of highly bespoke solutions that ignore two key principles:</p> <ol> <li>Your product portfolio should cater to your core customer segments and meet their needs.</li> <li>Your product portfolio should balance the short-term benefits of bespoke solutions against long-term maintenance costs while aligning with your business strategy.</li> </ol> <p>So the reality often looks like this: large legacy product portfolios have grown over time, and the effort required to clean up is hard to prioritize against other seemingly more pressing topics.</p> <p>This article highlights the <strong>benefits of going through a clean-up exercise</strong> and explains how to conduct a <strong>“Product Kondo” exercise</strong> on your product portfolio. Like Marie Kondo, the Japanese master of cleaning up closets and houses to keep what brings you joy, discard what you no longer need, and organize what you keep into a workable order, this exercise seeks to identify the most valuable items for both your business and your customers. This article discusses the issues with large legacy portfolios and explains <em>how</em> to simplify and organize them into <strong>customer-centric portfolios</strong>, with stakeholder buy-in throughout the process.</p> Overflowing Product Cupboards <p>There are many reasons why an organization might end up with a large legacy product portfolio, which, similar to the cupboards organized by Marie Kondo, is in dire need of a good clean-up. Whether your portfolio is overgrown from crafting bespoke solutions for important enterprise clients (a common B2B scenario), from testing new features with a B2C customer segment, or various other possible reasons, incentive structures chiefly among them — overgrown portfolios are very common. And the problem is they need to not just be developed in the first place, they <strong>need to be maintained</strong>, and that gets ever more <strong>costly</strong> and <strong>complex</strong> over time.</p> <p>While this might be oversimplified, the general logic holds true: the more bespoke your product portfolio, the harder it is to keep clean and tidy. Or as Marie Kondo would say, <em>“In a messy cupboard, it’s impossible to find the pieces that truly bring you joy.”</em> In this context, joy translates into:</p> <ol> <li>Value for the customer,</li> <li>Revenue for the business.</li> </ol> <p>If you want to work out how to find that joy in your product portfolio again, this article outlines the practical steps taken for such a “Product Kondo” exercise in a global not-for-profit organization with a large legacy portfolio, including the moment when theory met reality, and the learnings from this effort.</p> <p>We conducted this clean-up in a globally distributed organization undergoing a wider transformation. For more than 20 years, the organization had been gathering and distributing data in various formats: from raw to modelled data, scores, and advanced data products. However, it had not been focused on customer centricity nor regarded products as strategic differentiators. This meant that key indicators of success for product organizations had never been tracked. So the challenge was to map out and simplify the portfolio with very few indicators available to track product performance (e.g., user analytics data). </p> <blockquote>So, how do you start understanding where the value lies in your portfolio and what factors are driving this portfolio clean-up in the first place?</blockquote> <p>As part of the wider organizational transformation, one consideration was to <strong>simplify the product portfolio</strong> in order to reduce maintenance costs and the technical effort required for a planned migration to a new platform. Another important concern was to <strong>align future development with the newly developed business strategy</strong>. Therefore, reducing costs and planning for the future were the key drivers.</p> The “Product Kondo” Portfolio Clean-up <p>So if you find yourself in a similar situation, where you have a complex legacy portfolio, and where across many years features have been added, but hardly anything has ever been sunset, a “Product Kondo” clean-up, i.e., a cleaning out of your product cupboards, might be what’s needed.</p> <p>To do that, it’s useful to go in with two ideas: </p> <ul> <li>Transparency about the need to simplify;</li> <li>Transparency about how decisions will be made, so teams are on board and able to contribute.</li> </ul> <p>Getting buy-in and building a narrative everyone understands and sees as relevant is crucial when trying to clean up — especially in large companies, where you’ll always find someone who thinks “we need everything,” and the relative importance of different customer segments is unclear, with no accurate portfolio overview in place.</p> <blockquote>If you’re unclear about the state of your current portfolio, how do you know where to focus next strategically?</blockquote> <p>Not knowing where the highest value lies in your portfolio and how it all maps out as a whole has another implication: If you don’t know your current status quo, it’s hard to plan ahead and it’s equally hard to get out of the delivery mode many product organizations find themselves in, where you simply build what gets requested, but can’t act as a driver of future growth.</p> <p>To organize a portfolio in order to define how to handle it going forward, while not having much information to base decisions on, the high-level approach was this:</p> <ol> <li>Define the <strong>FOR WHOM</strong> (By building a user segmentation matrix).</li> <li>Establish the <strong>STATUS QUO</strong> (By auditing previous attempts to map the portfolio).</li> <li>Agree the <strong>HOW</strong> (By defining evaluation criteria &amp; prioritisation).</li> <li>Ensuring <strong>BUY-IN</strong> (through deep dives with key stakeholders and experts).</li> </ol> <p><strong>Note</strong>: <em>Every company is different, especially regarding the information that’s available. So this is not an attempt at building the next framework or providing a one-size-fits-all approach to portfolio organization. Instead, it is a proposed solution for how to approach mapping out your current portfolio to start from a cleaner slate, with your customer segments in mind. These four areas of work should be considered as necessary when attempting a “product kondo” exercise in your own organization.</em></p> <h3>1. For Whom? Building A User Segmentation Matrix</h3> <p>First things first, if you’re not clear about your <strong>primary and secondary customer segments</strong>, then this is where to start. If you want teams to be able to focus, it’s crucial to define priorities. Identifying key external user groups/segments, understanding their differences, and assessing their importance to the organization’s overall business success is a great start. Building a user segmentation matrix is a great foundation for prioritizing efforts and aligning services/products around user needs. </p> <p>Apart from establishing the key jobs-to-be-done, goals, and pain points for each customer segment, it fosters transparency around the following factors:</p> <ul> <li>Thinking from a customer perspective.</li> <li>Considering measurable data like user numbers, size of accounts, and revenue.</li> <li>The fact that some user groups are more valuable to an organization than others, hence should be ranked higher in a prioritization effort.</li> </ul> <p>How to define user segments, with different levels of relevance to the organization and its future strategy, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2024/05/building-user-segmentation-matrix-foster-cross-org-alignment/">is described in more detail here</a>. It was the initial mental model shared across teams prior to starting this portfolio simplification effort.</p> <p>Next up: Understanding the current status quo and building a “source of truth” of everything considered under the remit of the product organization. Because you need a clear reference point to get started.</p> <h3>2. Status Quo: Auditing And Defining What To Measure</h3> <p>To determine the best approach and size the task ahead, understanding what had been done before was crucial, so as not to reinvent the wheel. It was clear that the organization had a sprawling product catalogue that contained a varied mix of different items, lacking clear definitions and categorization. </p> <p>The initial audit was about updating the product catalog that had been assembled three years earlier and adding information that would be relevant for assessing relative value. As revenue, user numbers, or development effort had never been tracked, this is where we gathered additional insights on each item from the product owners (POs) responsible.</p> <p>The assessment criteria were partly taken from the previous effort (criteria 1-9), and further criteria were added to obtain a more holistic picture (criteria 10-15). See the table below.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/product-kondo-guide-evaluating-organizational-product-portfolio/1-portfolio-evaluation-criteria.png"></p> <h3>3. How? Doing The Audit</h3> <p>In order to be transparent about decision-making, it was important to agree on the <strong>evaluation criteria and scoring</strong> with key stakeholders upfront and ensure every contributor understood that a lack of data would lead to low scores. To that end, we asked all 36 product owners (POs) to submit data for each product under their remit. As the organization had not previously tracked this information, the initial responses were often quite vague, and many cells were left blank.</p> <p>To increase data quality and make data-based decisions, 1:1 interviews with POs allowed us to answer questions and build out “best guess” assumptions together in cases of missing data.</p> <p><strong>Note</strong>: <em>While not technically perfect, we decided that moving forward with assumptions grounded in subject matter expertise, rather than completely missing data, would be preferable.</em></p> <p>Lastly, some inputs like “automation potential” were hard to assess for less technical POs. Our approach here followed the product mindset that while it is important to make data-informed decisions, “done is better than perfect.” So once we had enough confidence in the picture that emerged, we proceeded with scoring in the interest of time.</p> <p>As a side note regarding data quality: 1. Manually cleaning inputs throughout (e.g., removing duplicates) and 2. following up until clear inputs were provided, helped increase input quality. In addition, predefined ranges led to higher data quality than inputs requiring hard-to-quantify data, like, e.g., expected impact.</p> <h4>3.1. Scoring</h4> <p>Defining the scoring methodology upfront and getting stakeholders to align on the relevance of different criteria transparently was crucial for this work. Particularly keeping in mind that simplifying (in other words, reducing) the portfolio has an immediate impact on various teams, communicating openly about what is being done, how, and why is important, so everyone understands the longer-term goal: <strong>to reduce cost, maintenance, and prepare for future growth</strong>. </p> <p>The image below illustrates the three stages that led to the prioritized list and score for each item.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/product-kondo-guide-evaluating-organizational-product-portfolio/2-overview-scoring-methodology.png"></p> <p>The outcome of this stage now ranked the business and user value for each data product, and the initial expectation was that this was the end of the portfolio cleanup. A list of all items ranked by their value to the business, so that, e.g., the bottom half could be cut and the rest migrated to the new technical platform in order of priority. </p> <p>At least that was the theory, and this is where it met reality.</p> <h4>Dealing With Change Reality</h4> <p>Once the weighted list was ready and the whole portfolio was ranked, it became clear that what was considered the “Product portfolio” in fact consisted of 12 different types of items, and roughly 70% of them could not be considered actual products.</p> <p>While inside the organization, everything was called a PRODUCT, it became clear that the types of items referred to as “products” were in fact a mixed bag of trackers, tables, graphs, extracts, data sets, dashboards, reports, tools, scoring, and so on. And many low-ranking internal-facing tools enabled highly relevant customer-facing products. </p> <p>The list was essentially comparing “apples to oranges,” and that meant that simply cutting the bottom half of lower-scoring items would lead to the whole “house of cards” tumbling down, especially as a lot of items had dependencies on each other.</p> <h4>What To Do?</h4> <p>First and foremost, we worked with leadership to explain the issue of missing categorization in the portfolio and the risks that cutting the lower-scoring half of the list would entail, especially due to the time pressures of the wider ongoing transformation effort. </p> <p>Next, we proposed to work with key product owners and leaders to help <strong>categorize the portfolio correctly</strong>, in order to determine how best to handle each item going forward.</p> <p>We used the following five buckets to enable sorting, with the intention of keeping the “other” category as small as possible.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/product-kondo-guide-evaluating-organizational-product-portfolio/3-categorization-data-products.png"></p> <p>Aside from simplifying the terminology used, this categorization meant that each category could be handled differently in terms of future work.</p> <p>For example, all raw data items would be automated, while the process around “low effort” data items didn’t have to be changed going forward, once it was clear how low the manual effort actually was. Notably, the categorization included a “Sunset/Stop” category to allow stakeholders to already move items there during the deep dives of their own volition, rather than through top-down decision making.</p> <h3>4. Getting Buy-in: Building Product Trees</h3> <p>To get buy-in and allow for active contributions from subject matter experts, we planned <strong>workshops per customer segment</strong> (as defined by the user segmentation matrix — the initial starting point). Aside from organizing the portfolio items, these workshops allowed key people to be actively involved and thereby act as advocates for the future success of this work.</p> <p>Using Miro boards to share all audit findings, goals, and the purpose of the clean-up, we conducted seven workshops overall. With 4–6 participants, we spent 3 hours categorizing all items per customer segment. In order to avoid groupthink, all participants were asked to cluster their part of the portfolio as part of the preparation.</p> <p><strong>The “product tree” concept</strong>, developed as an innovation game called “prune the product tree” by <a href="https://www.lukehohmann.com/innovation-games/prune-the-product-tree">Luke Hohmann</a> to organize features around customer needs, helped create a shared mental model among participants. In contrast to Hohmann, we applied the product tree concept here to organize the current portfolio logically and actively reduce it, rather than imagine new products.</p> <p>In this context, the roots of the tree signified raw data, the tree trunk equated to modeled or derived data, with the crown of the tree signifying data products, and the outer branches were left for “other” items — to capture what could not be easily grouped but had to be included. </p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/product-kondo-guide-evaluating-organizational-product-portfolio/4-product-tree-metaphor.png"></p> <p>Grouping items in this way served a second purpose: to guide how to handle them in the future transformation effort. The plan was to automate raw data first, based on priority. While modeled or derived data would have to be checked for complexity to determine future handling. The actual data products identified would be crucial for the company’s future strategy and were to be reimagined with a product mindset going forward.</p> <p>The tree metaphor worked well here, despite being used in a different way from its original context, as it provided <strong>a mental model for categorization</strong>. By clustering items, it was possible to better determine their value for each customer segment in the portfolio. According to the feedback gathered after each workshop, the joint mapping and visualization helped teams trust the process and feel actively involved.</p> Findings <p>Analyzing the findings from the workshops revealed the complexity of this effort, with many different factors playing into the prioritization. To visualize this complexity, we used the following approach:</p> <ul> <li>Mapping out the product tree by swimlanes (as introduced in the workshops).</li> <li>Layering in usage across multiple segments (through color-coding).</li> <li>Adding the level of dependencies (through the type of frame around each item).</li> <li>Then, add the quantitative assessment and ranking through numbering and color-coding.</li> </ul> <p>For each workshop, we cleaned up the boards, making sure to include crucial comments, especially those about future treatment, such as when a legal obligation to deliver would end.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/product-kondo-guide-evaluating-organizational-product-portfolio/5-product-tree-example.png"></p> <p>Using swimlanes helped participants organize data items, while the tree metaphor clarified the interconnectedness and dependencies between items. Especially in the context of data products, this makes a lot of sense, e.g., with raw data being at the root of all other possible versions of “products” derived from them, whether these might be scores, modelled data, automated reports, or more advanced products.</p> <blockquote>Doing this Product Kondo exercise also helped the teams and all stakeholders gain a shared understanding of how the portfolio was structured for each customer segment. The visualization in swimlanes and with colour-coding and various different frames provided a way to illustrate the complex reality that the initial ranked list format wasn’t able to clarify.</blockquote> <p>Only once this portfolio mapping was in place, and once quantitative as well as qualitative insights were combined, was it possible to make good decisions about how to handle each item going forward.</p> <p>For example, all items in the “raw data” category would be automated as part of the wider transformation effort, while all items in the “sunset” category would definitely not be considered for migrating over to the new tech platform. Moreover, the items grouped under “low effort” would continue to be handled manually, while all items grouped under “derived &amp; modelled” would have to be assessed further by a team of tech leads to determine whether or not they might be automated in the future. The items most relevant for the future business strategy of this organization were those grouped under “data products”, i.e., those products that would have to be re-imagined with clear customer needs in mind, based on the user segmentation matrix.</p> Learnings <p>In total, we achieved a portfolio reduction of 67.8% from 198 items initially to 118 post clean-up. However, what matters here is not simply the reduction but the <strong>categorization</strong>, i.e., separating and organizing the portfolio into different swimlanes and introducing the product tree metaphor. <strong>The product tree visualisation</strong> helped all stakeholders understand the interconnectedness of the portfolio, where the roots signify the core product and the branches different, more advanced products or features built on top of that core.</p> <p>Similarly, <strong>the categorization into swimlanes</strong> helped to organize and cluster similar items, getting away from comparing apples and oranges in the initial big portfolio audit table. It illustrated very clearly that not all items are alike and can’t be judged and rated in the same way.</p> <p>It is worth mentioning that there is no one best way to label your swimlanes, but a good starting point is to think of naming different clusters, e.g., from basic to most complex, and to always include a “sunset/stop” cluster and potentially one that covers “redesign/tech upgrade” items. Having these two buckets allows contributors to actively shape the decision-making around the quick-win items, usually the most obviously outdated or clunky parts of the portfolio.</p> <p>Whether or not you categorize your products in order to determine how to handle them in an organizational transformation, e.g., to assess automation potential, will largely depend on <em>why</em> and <em>when</em> you’re cleaning up your product portfolio. Even outside of a transformation effort, clustering your portfolio into different categories, understanding interconnectedness, and whether or not each customer segment has a well-rounded product tree, with solid roots and future-looking branches, is a useful exercise in sense-making and keeping your organization lean.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/product-kondo-guide-evaluating-organizational-product-portfolio/6-product-kondo-categorisation.png"></p> <h3>Shared Terminology Matters</h3> <p>In all this, our biggest learning was that</p> <p>Terminology matters because simply referring to things as “products” doesn’t make them so. Comparing like for like is a key factor when assessing a product portfolio.</p> <p>Correct categorization was the biggest challenge that had to be dealt with first, to enable the organization to iterate and focus on where to play and re-imagine products to match the future business strategy.</p> <h3>When Theory Meets Reality</h3> <p>This portfolio clean-up had to pivot and expand to include a mapping exercise because we hadn’t factored in the unclear terminology used across the organization, and that, instead of simply gathering and ranking, the biggest task was to correctly categorize and structure. And this is likely to be different from organization to organization. So I would always recommend checking which categories of items you’re comparing in your portfolio. If you’re not entirely sure, you should always include <strong>a clustering or mapping exercise</strong> right from the start.</p> Product Kondo: The Groundwork For Transformation <p>If you’re struggling with a large legacy portfolio and no longer confident that everything in it serves a purpose and brings joy to users and the business, it’s time to clean up.</p> <p>It’s often necessary and needed to focus on the next shiny thing, but if you don’t balance that with cleaning up your existing portfolio, your organization will eventually become slow. Overgrown product portfolios can’t be sustained forever.</p> <p>Particularly in organizations bound by various contractual obligations, this is the groundwork that enables product teams to iterate.</p> <p>Moreover, doing this clean-up and clearing out effort across teams is a highly transparent way to include teams in change. And it is a useful way for getting teams to contribute and actively shape a transformation effort. Business decisions have to be taken, but taking them with <strong>transparency</strong> and in <strong>an evidence-guided way</strong> ensures that you are bringing people along.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/product-kondo-guide-evaluating-organizational-product-portfolio/7-product-kondo-benefits.png"></p> <p>Last but not least — if you don’t have the capacity to do the full portfolio clean-up (which took us about 4 months, with a core team of roughly 4 people) — start smaller. And start with including these considerations in your day-to-day, for example, by always checking if products or features should be stopped or sunset every time you’re launching new products. Or start by mapping out the different categories of items in your portfolio — with swimlanes and the product tree metaphor in mind. What is core, and what is the future state of play?</p> <p><strong>Upside</strong>: Once you’ve got that big picture overview and worked out what to sunset or where to slim down, you have more capacity to focus on current and future priorities strategically.</p> <p><strong>Reality check</strong>: Of course, the work doesn’t stop there. The next step is to align it all back to your user segments and check how your portfolio serves each of these, particularly the primary segments.</p> <h3>Further Reading</h3> <ul> <li>“<a href="https://medium.com/@userpilot/product-led-growth-the-ultimate-guide-for-software-companies-b9fa0779ef8f">Product-Led Growth: The Ultimate Guide for Software Companies</a>,” Userpilot</li> <li>“<a href="https://itamargilad.com/book-evidence-guided/">Evidence-Guided: Creating High-Impact Products in the Face of Uncertainty</a>,” Itamar Gilad</li> <li>“<a href="https://beyondthebacklog.com/2025/01/07/innovation-games/">Innovation Games: Exploring Luke Hohmann’s Game-Changing Approach</a>,” Matt Hicks</li> <li>“<a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2024/05/building-user-segmentation-matrix-foster-cross-org-alignment/">Building A User Segmentation Matrix To Foster Cross-Org Alignment</a>,” Talke Hoppmann-Walton</li> <li>“<a href="https://www.savio.io/blog/how-to-create-a-product-portfolio-roadmap/">What Is A Product Portfolio Roadmap?</a>,” Kareem Mayan</li> </ul>

<p>The work of a designer largely consists of inventing new things, which requires creativity that is generally believed to depend on <strong>inspiration</strong>, making it unpredictable and difficult to control. Many designers, as well as those who would like to try their hand at design, are wondering: what to do if inspiration does not come at the right moment?</p> <p>There are many practical recommendations from experienced designers and design managers on how to work without inspiration. These mainly rely on discipline, planning, and working with references. I would like to suggest an alternative approach: <strong>how to boost creativity and “lure” inspiration with the help of neuroscience</strong>. </p> <p>I’m Marina, and I have been deeply interested in neuroscience for a long time. I have tried many methods from my own experience and observed the experience of my colleagues. In this article, I want to share the ways that seemed to me the most effective in luring creativity, which I eventually built into my life routine on an ongoing basis.</p> How Our Brain Works <p>The brain has been and remains an important topic that is underexplored, especially in the context of design and design thinking. No other profession represents the blend of creativity and logic quite like design, in my opinion. This raises a fair question: which part of the brain is more important, the left or the right? To start with, let’s briefly refresh which part of the brain is responsible for what: </p> <table> <thead><tr> <th>Left Hemisphere</th> <th>Right Hemisphere</th> </tr></thead> <tbody> <tr> <td> <strong>Language and Speech</strong>: Language-related activities like speaking, writing, and comprehension </td> <td> <strong>Creativity and Artistic Abilities</strong>: Imagination, creative thinking, music, visual arts, etc. </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <strong>Analytical Thinking</strong>: Mathematical operations, sequential processing, and problem-solving </td> <td> <strong>Emotional Processing</strong>: Emotion recognition, facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <strong>Linear Thinking</strong>: Step-by-step way of information processing </td> <td> <strong>Holistic Thinking</strong>: Looking at the big picture rather than focusing on details </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>While each part of the brain is responsible for certain functions, they work together to process information. For some activities (<em>analyzing data, solving equations, and working with precise calculations</em>), it might be more important to rely on the left hemisphere, while for others (<em>composing music, acting</em>), the right hemisphere.</p> <p>However, when it comes to the design process and design thinking, <strong>it’s essential to stimulate both hemispheres</strong> and not limit the role of a product designer to being either predominantly left- or right-brained.</p> Interhemispheric Interaction In Product Design: Why Are Both Equally Important? <p>In product design, the need for well-established <strong>interhemispheric interaction</strong> is especially noticeable since this work requires <strong>a balance between logic and creativity</strong>. The left hemisphere’s logical functions help designers break down complex problems, analyze user needs, and organize structured workflows, ensuring the product’s functionality and usability.</p> <p>For example, logical processes are crucial in creating wireframes and user flows and adhering to technical constraints. On the other side, the right hemisphere’s creative and spatial abilities play a critical role in developing visually appealing designs and innovative user experiences. It’s extremely important for a designer to think outside the box and solve user problems without forgetting about the balanced and attractive visual part at the same time.</p> <p>A harmonious interaction between the two hemispheres allows product designers to seamlessly integrate both practical functionality and creative innovation. This balance results in products that not only meet technical and user requirements but also deliver an enjoyable, intuitive, and visually captivating user experience.</p> The Relevance Of This Subject <p>The idea that two parts of the brain are interconnected and complement each other during creative tasks isn’t new, nor is it my invention. One of the most influential works for product designers is <em>Experiences in Visual Thinking</em> by Robert H. McKim, an Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering. The value of this book lies in the author’s attempt to explain visual thinking through the lenses of psychology, neurology, semantics, art, and perception. This work was later included in Stanford University’s list of recommended readings for engineering and art design students, further highlighting its significance beyond the field of design. </p> <p>In the context of the brain’s left and right hemispheres, the author explains and demonstrates through a range of experiments that, to achieve <strong>productive thinking</strong> — the kind that leads to creative actions — we need to achieve an “internal transfer” between the so-called rational and intuitive halves of the brain. In our thinking process, to achieve creativity, we need to build bridges to <em>“integrate the artist and scientist within each one of us.”</em></p> <p>He offers a series of exercises (<em>“3-1/Food for Thought,” “3-2/Dominant Eye,” “3-3/Internal Transfer”</em>) that demonstrate that both brain hemispheres complement each other in cognition and creativity, and he offers to practice them to achieve the so-called “internal transfer”. </p> <p>One of the simplest exercises offered by McKim is the <em>“3-2/Dominant Eye”</em>. Look at the picture and try to describe what you see: </p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/neuroscience-designers-boost-creativity-endless-reference-scrolling/1-neuroscience-designers-boost-creativity-endless-reference-scrolling.png"></p> <p>If you see a duck first (most people see it first) — your left hemisphere is more active. This is because the left hemisphere was activated before reading. If you see a rabbit — often after it’s mentioned — your right hemisphere is more active. This exercise shows that we can consciously choose to shift between hemispheres, training ourselves to engage either side more effectively.</p> <p>In his work, Professor H. McKim not only demonstrates how to activate the left or right hemisphere but also explains the <strong>complementary modes of thought</strong>, which consist of two stages. The first stage involves generating an array of ideas, often through a visual thinking process, while the second stage focuses on selecting and refining these ideas (or objects) for further development. Creativity is born during the first stage, but to be executed tangibly, it requires the second stage. Even mathematicians do not only think in terms of mathematical symbols; many, particularly creative ones, use vague images and visuals as part of their thought processes.</p> <p>According to McKim, creativity requires a balanced development of both hemispheres, as creative thinkers are ambidextrous and capable of transferring ideas into actionable steps. Another important aspect of visual thinking is the right environment, which leads to creativity. McKim describes it as <strong>“relaxed attention”</strong> — a mental state where ideas emerge spontaneously. Relaxed attention is often achieved through side activities like meditation, taking breaks, physical relaxation, and engaging in non-linear thinking, such as doodling or daydreaming. </p> <p>I will further share my perspective on enhancing creativity through side activities and present my top three mental and physical occupations. However, it’s important to understand the complementary nature of our brain and how visual thinking often stems from diverse activities and practices. </p> What Helps Creativity <p>While it is clear that creativity is driven by both the left and right hemispheres, an important question remains: how can we boost creativity while keeping the process enjoyable? It may not be obvious, but non-design-related activities can, in fact, be an opportunity to enhance creativity. </p> Physical Activity <p>The interconnection between our body, mind, and thinking process might be key to awakening creativity. Motor skills are controlled by both hemispheres, with the right hemisphere controlling the left side of the body and the left hemisphere controlling the right side. But it also works in the opposite direction — movements trigger active brain activity. </p> <blockquote>Sports that combine the need to develop a strategy while also requiring active movement may work best for turning up creativity.</blockquote> <p>Understanding the intricacies of the brain highlights the importance of integrating all parts of the brain. In order to learn, you must first have a sensory experience, then reflect and make connections. Finally, you must take action based on the experience. The knowledge that your first movements, even inside the womb, help build your brain underscores the fact that you actually move to learn. In other words, <strong>movement is essential to learning</strong>. (<em>Source: Anne Green Gilbert. Brain-Compatible Dance Education, 2019</em>)</p> <p>Here are the top activities that positively impact creativity, and I will explain why they have this effect. </p> <h3>Tennis</h3> <p>The basis of a good game is a well-thought-out and trained strategy. Tennis requires a quick analysis of the situation, prompt decisions, and maximum involvement. No wonder this sport is called “chess in motion”: in the process, it is developing memory, concentration, and strategic thinking. At the same time, working in a group and communicating during workouts help reduce stress levels and improve mood.</p> <p>Table tennis also develops <strong>concentration</strong>. The need to memorize combinations, develop motor skills, visual and motor types of memory, and compare the opponent’s movements, speed, angle of flight of the ball, and its rotational force form the basis of a successful game. It is suitable for those who do not have the opportunity to play lawn tennis.</p> <p>I asked several designers if they do any of these things in their free time and how they think it affects their productivity and professional skills. Here is what they’ve shared:</p> <blockquote>“I started playing tennis a couple of years ago. I work out once or twice a week individually with a coach or in a group. This is a sport that requires high concentration during the game. It seems to me that this skill helped me in my work as well; before that, I was often distracted, and it was difficult for me to do the same task for a long time.<br><br>At the same time, due to the fact that I have to fully concentrate during the game, I manage to switch from everyday problems and unload my brain. I prefer to play in the morning or afternoon and take a break from work. Therefore, I return to work more energetically and can take a fresh look at my tasks.”<br><br>— Ilia Kanazin, Product Designer with 7+ years of experience working in SaaS</blockquote> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/neuroscience-designers-boost-creativity-endless-reference-scrolling/2-neuroscience-designers-boost-creativity-endless-reference-scrolling.jpg"></p> <h3>Dance</h3> <p>Dance challenges the brain by requiring the integration of movement, rhythm, coordination, and memory, which promotes <strong>neuroplasticity</strong>, or the brain’s ability to form new neural connections. The more varied the movement patterns and rhythmic complexities, the more the brain is stimulated to adapt and reorganize. Neuroplasticity has a positive effect on memory capacity, learning abilities, and problem-solving skills, which are good for the design process.</p> <p>At the same time, <strong>cognitive flexibility</strong> supports the developed design because you always need to adjust your decisions, getting new data from user testing and feedback from the stakeholders. Dancers often have to improvise or adapt to changes in the rhythm and conditions. Also, they constantly learn new movements and combinations of them. Such experience in choreography and expression develops connections between hemispheres, which influences a person’s ability to think creatively in general.</p> <h3>Balance Exercises</h3> <p>In my opinion, the balance board is one of the most convenient and affordable home simulators. With its help, you can do a short workout at any time to take a break from long work and return to work with a fresh look.</p> <p>Board balance exercises can be quite diverse. It can be added to your usual exercises and diversified with squats, exercises with a slight weight on the upper body, or shoulder and neck warm-up, which will increase cognitive activity as a result.</p> <p>You can also just stand on the balance board while listening to work calls, which don’t require active participation, watching TV shows, or chatting on the phone with friends.</p> <h3>Case Study</h3> <blockquote>“By training your body to move more creatively, you train your mind to think more creatively.”<br><br>— Jennifer Heisz. Move The Body, Heal The Mind, 2022</blockquote> <p>While it may be challenging to find documented real-life cases that provide clear examples of famous designs fueled by sport and physical activity, there are historically backed examples and research studies demonstrating that physical activity positively influences creativity.</p> <p>For example, Charles Darwin’s <em>“Thinking Path”</em>. The scientist developed his most famous works, <em>“On the Origin of Species”</em> and <em>“The Descent of Man,”</em> at Down House, where he took daily walks. This activity is known as <a href="https://www.philipmandel.com/darwin-s-thinking-path">Darwin’s Thinking Path</a>, and it is well-documented how his walking routine influenced the way he contemplated his scientific theories.</p> <p>With the emergence of neuroscience as a science in the mid-20th century, we have gained a new perspective on what drives creative thinking, which is ultimately beneficial for design. Neuroscience provides insights into how various activities influence the brain, which, as a result, leads to changes in other fields.</p> <p>For example, tennis is recognized for its benefits to brain health. It enhances the ability to process sensory information rapidly, improving overall cognitive processing speed and reaction time. In addition, <strong>strategic thinking</strong> is required in this game and engages the prefrontal cortex — the brain’s hub for decision-making and strategic planning. And we can see how this single activity demonstrates the far-reaching <a href="https://www.nuvancehealth.org/health-tips-and-news/the-neuroscience-of-tennis-for-brain-health#:~:text=Learning%20and%20mastering%20tennis%20techniques,neural%20networks%20during%20formative%20years">cognitive benefits of physical exercise</a>.</p> <p>Nowadays, researchers in neuroscience are united in their opinion on what unleashes creativity — physical activity unlocks it. There are even experiments that measure it: Marily Oppezzo, a behavioral and learning scientist at Stanford, studied how walking affects creativity. Her experiment compared walking on a treadmill, walking outdoors, sitting indoors and outdoors, and being pushed in a wheelchair. Surprisingly, even treadmill walking in a dull room boosted creativity by 60% compared to sitting.</p> <blockquote>“It’s not specific activities but individuals’ experiences of them that determine their effect.”<br><br>— <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/04/all-it-takes-is-a-quick-walk-how-a-few-minutes-exercise-can-unleash-creativity-even-if-you-hate-it">Amir-Homayoun Javadi, Associate Professor at the University of Kent</a> </blockquote> <p>Another study goes further, explaining that not all sports impact creativity to the same extent. </p> <blockquote>“It may surprise you — it wasn’t artistic sports but net and combat sports. Why? Because cultivating a creative mind depends on how we train. In artistic sports (figure skating, gymnastics, synchronized swimming), athletes memorize a series of predefined steps. Although creating these routines may involve creativity, the training itself is structured, predictable, and planned.”</blockquote> <p>Training that is mostly predictable makes our brain less mentally flexible, in contrast to net and combat sports (such as badminton, tennis, volleyball, and fencing), which make us <strong>learn to act instinctively</strong>. As we train physically, our brain also adapts, becoming more flexible — particularly in terms of cognitive flexibility. This, in turn, enhances our creativity. (<em>Source: Jennifer Heisz. Move The Body, Heal The Mind, 2022</em>)</p> Mental Activity <p>However, physical activity is not the only way to achieve a ‘relaxed attention’ state and learn to balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Mental activities also trigger the same process. I have selected the top 3 activities that will enhance your creativity at work. </p> <h3>Learning Foreign Languages</h3> <p>As we discussed above, during the design process, both brain hemispheres are used, and when you’re learning foreign languages, it leads to similar processes in your brain, so you train it through similar activities. </p> <p>Language processing primarily occurs in the left hemisphere, but emotional intonation and context (e.g., sarcasm, tone) are understood by the right hemisphere. When someone says <em>“Oh, great!”</em> after receiving bad news, the left hemisphere processes the words and grammar, understanding the literal meaning, while the right hemisphere interprets the tone and context, allowing the person to get the real point of the message.</p> <p>Learning a second language exposes people to <strong>new methods of expressing the same thoughts</strong>, which promotes creativity. Finding synonyms, understanding idiomatic terms, and gaining the ability to flip between languages all promote <strong>divergent thinking</strong>, which is the ability to generate several solutions to a given problem. </p> <p>In parallel, learning foreign languages helps to develop <strong>storytelling</strong> and <strong>self-presentation skills</strong>, which are also very useful in a designer’s work.</p> <blockquote>“I’ve lived in several countries for a long time, so in addition to my native language, I speak three other foreign languages as well. It helps me to build communication with different people, which is very important in the designer’s work.<br><br>I think because I know how to say the same thing in different languages, I also use this approach in design. To solve the same problem, I can offer several solutions and choose the most appropriate one together with the stakeholders.<br><br>Now I am a Senior Growth Designer, and this job requires constantly looking for non-standard solutions and implementing them quickly. I think the use of different languages contributes to this from the point of view of brain function.<br><br>Speaking multiple languages also comes really handy when you are dealing with personas from different nationalities. For example, Western Saas products use a more minimalist approach, whereas Saas from Asia or China, for example, more information is better than less.”<br><br>— Maxence Akodjenou, Senior Growth Designer (working on complex B2B apps)</blockquote> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/neuroscience-designers-boost-creativity-endless-reference-scrolling/3-neuroscience-designers-boost-creativity-endless-reference-scrolling.png"></p> <h3>Board Games</h3> <p>Table games develop <strong>strategic thinking</strong>, require players to anticipate opponents’ moves, solve problems in real-time, and sometimes think outside the box. Traditional games like chess encourage <strong>critical thinking</strong>, as players must analyze the current situation, weigh potential outcomes, and decide on the best course of action. This improves the <strong>brain’s executive functions</strong>, including decision-making, planning, and strategic thinking.</p> <p>Some tabletop games are based on role-playing or storytelling, such as Dungeons &amp; Dragons or Dixit. These games encourage players to invent stories, create characters, and navigate imaginative scenarios, fostering creative thinking and imagination.</p> <p>Board games also train <strong>communication skills</strong>, which product designers have to use a lot in their jobs. Playing table games, especially in groups, encourages the participants to convince their teammates of their decisions and carefully listen to others. The games that involve cooperation help the players develop their <strong>collaboration skills</strong>, such as finding compromises, negotiating, and making concessions.</p> <h3>Music Lessons</h3> <p>Playing a musical instrument has been a widely researched topic in neuroscience in recent decades. It has been proven that music lessons <strong>improve cognitive abilities</strong> by improving the neural connection between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, which leads to a positive effect on memory, learning ability, and non-verbal thinking, as a result of which the brain as a whole works much more productively in other areas of life.</p> <p>The brain learns to hear and interpret sounds, which happens only while playing an instrument and is impossible while simply listening to music. As a result, <strong>a person is better able to process complex information</strong>. Playing musical instruments involves the relationship between the motor, sensory, auditory, visual, and emotional components of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Such brain training includes artistic and aesthetic aspects of learning, which is a unique feature of playing a musical instrument. The combination of linguistic and mathematical activity in the left hemisphere gets used to working in coordination with creative functions in the right hemisphere.</p> <p>An interesting fact: Albert Einstein often played the violin during moments of deep thinking, claiming that music was an extension of his thought process and helped him solve particularly difficult problems.</p> <h3>A Lesson From Paul Klee</h3> <p>It is worth noting that it works both ways — both your music lessons enhance your creativity in design, and design pushes your success in music.</p> <p>In the book <em>Enchanted Neurons</em>, Pierre Boulez, French composer and conductor, talks about the lessons that Paul Klee (Swiss-born German artist. His highly individual style was influenced by movements in art that included expressionism, cubism, and surrealism) taught at the Bauhaus (German art school which became famous for its approach to design based on unifying individual artistic vision with the principles of mass production and emphasis on function). </p> <blockquote>“Theoretical reflection is particularly interesting to me when it is applied to something that is completely foreign to music because it then makes it possible to discover solutions that you would never have found if you had remained bound by the limits of your art.<br><br>I’ll give you a personal example: the discovery not only of Klee’s painting but also the lessons that he gave at the Bauhaus, which we spoke about earlier, was extremely important to me, especially from the point of view of composition. I understood how using very simple elements like two motifs made it possible to think about the way in which these two motifs could interact. I remember, in particular, an exercise given by Klee to his students: a straight line and a circle. That’s it. The exercise consisted of trying to invent something, a meeting of this line and this circle.”<br><br>— Pierre Boulez, Jean-Pierre Changeux, Philippe Manoury. Enchanted Neurons, 2020</blockquote> <p>This lesson shared by Pierre Boulez demonstrates how <strong>interdisciplinary inspiration</strong> — such as the course of visual artist Paul Klee — shaped his creative process and how concepts from outside music can lead to new solutions.</p> <p>In my opinion, the reverse can also be true: music and its principles can inspire creativity in other disciplines.</p> <blockquote>“I started composing music even earlier than I started designing. Music has a composition and rhythm-like design. And development in one area also entails a boost in another. It works both ways; <strong>success in music develops my design skills</strong>. Design helps me make more complex music.<br><br>In addition, there is also a practical benefit; I make my own covers for my tracks and use my tracks for my showcases. Plus, I listen to a lot of different music, and it develops my world perception, fills me with energy, and creates the right mood for working on projects.”<br><br>— Sergei Diuzhev, Design Leader at <a href="http://musescore.com/">MuseScore</a> </blockquote> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/neuroscience-designers-boost-creativity-endless-reference-scrolling/4-neuroscience-designers-boost-creativity-endless-reference-scrolling.png"></p> Tips For Incorporating A Routine That Sustains Designer’s Creativity <p>Whenever you feel stuck in your work or overly critical of your designs or prototype, think about the strategies from the above that might help your creative process. </p> <ol> <li> <strong>Find something you genuinely enjoy or have always wanted to try and implement in small steps.</strong><br>It doesn’t need to be a completely new hobby. For example, you could dance to your favorite music at home, stand on a balance board between work calls, or try something new once a month or quarter with friends, like skating, rock climbing, or other activities. This year, I plan to go skiing for the first time.</li> <li> <strong>Constantly explore new things, even small ones.</strong><br>Take different routes to work, cook new dishes, or listen to unfamiliar music. Even if you don’t end up loving it, it’s still valuable because your brain is enriched by the experience.</li> <li> <strong>Meet new people.</strong><br>As I mentioned earlier, communication skills are essential for designers, but beyond that, new people can inspire you in unexpected ways. They might introduce you to a new sport, hobby, or activity that you could even try together.</li> </ol> <p>I shared examples of designers who have rebuilt their creativity through activities like tennis, music, and languages, and I feel the impact in my own daily routine when I try new things and hobbies. Whatever approach you decide to follow, I guarantee your brain will feel the difference and reward you with fresh ideas and inspiration.</p> Conclusion <p>Creativity may be developed in a variety of ways, including browsing reference sites and putting in a lot of practice — both of which are important. Outside these classic ways, you can engage in <strong>activities that not only promote creativity but also improve your mental and physical health</strong>. </p> <p>There are many possibilities for increasing brain activity, and you can develop your own entertaining and useful ways of spending time. Finally, trying something new will generate new thoughts and break down the monotony.</p> <p>When you experience virtual reality, read poetry or fiction, see a film, listen to a piece of music, or move your body to dance, to name a few of the many arts, you are biologically changed. There is a neurochemical exchange that can lead to what Aristotle called <strong>catharsis</strong>, or a release of emotion that leaves you feeling more connected to yourself and others afterward. (<em>Source: Susan Magsamen, Ivy Ross. Your Brain on Art, 2023</em>)</p> <h4>Further Reading on Smashing Magazine</h4> <ul> <li>“<a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/09/why-performance-matters-the-perception-of-time/">Why Perceived Performance Matters: The Perception Of Time</a>,” Denys Mishunov</li> <li>“<a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/11/why-performance-matters-part-2-perception-management/">Why Performance Matters: Perception Management</a>,” Denys Mishunov</li> <li>“<a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2019/03/biometrics-neuro-measurements-user-testing/">Biometrics And Neuro-Measurements For User Testing</a>,” Susan Weinschenk</li> <li>“<a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2019/04/designers-guide-better-decisions/">A Designer’s Guide To Better Decisions</a>,” Eric Olive</li> </ul>

<p>So, you’re filling out an online form, and it asks you to upload a file. You click the input, select a file from your desktop, and are good to go. But something happens. The network drops, the file disappears, and you’re stuck having to re-upload the file. <strong>Poor network connectivity</strong> can lead you to spend an unreasonable amount of time trying to upload files successfully.</p> <p>What ruins the user experience stems from having to constantly check network stability and retry the upload several times. While we may not be able to do much about network connectivity, as developers, we can always do something to ease the pain that comes with this problem.</p> <p>One of the ways we can solve this problem is by tweaking image upload systems in a way that enables users to upload images offline — <strong>eliminating the need for a reliable network connection</strong>, and then having the system retry the upload process when the network becomes stable, without the user intervening.</p> <p>This article is going to focus on explaining how to build <strong>an offline-friendly image upload system</strong> using PWA (progressive web application) technologies such as <code>IndexedDB</code>, service workers, and the Background Sync API. We will also briefly cover tips for improving the user experience for this system.</p> Planning The Offline Image Upload System <p>Here’s a flow chart for an offline-friendly image upload system.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/building-offline-friendly-image-upload-system/1-upload-system-flow-chart.png"></p> <p>As shown in the flow chart, the process unfolds as follows:</p> <ol> <li> <strong>The user selects an image.</strong><br>The process begins by letting the user select their image.</li> <li> <strong>The image is stored locally in <code>IndexedDB</code>.</strong><br>Next, the system checks for network connectivity. If network connectivity is available, the system uploads the image directly, avoiding unnecessary local storage usage. However, if the network is not available, the image will be stored in <code>IndexedDB</code>.</li> <li> <strong>The service worker detects when the network is restored.</strong><br>With the image stored in <code>IndexedDB</code>, the system waits to detect when the network connection is restored to continue with the next step.</li> <li> <strong>The background sync processes pending uploads.</strong><br>The moment the connection is restored, the system will try to upload the image again.</li> <li> <strong>The file is successfully uploaded</strong>.<br>The moment the image is uploaded, the system will remove the local copy stored in <code>IndexedDB</code>.</li> </ol> Implementing The System <p>The first step in the system implementation is allowing the user to select their images. There are different ways you can achieve this:</p> <ul> <li>You can use a simple <code>&lt;input type="file"&gt;</code> element;</li> <li>A drag-and-drop interface.</li> </ul> <p>I would advise that you use both. Some users prefer to use the drag-and-drop interface, while others think the only way to upload images is through the <code>&lt;input type="file"&gt;</code> element. Having both options will help improve the user experience. You can also consider allowing users to paste images directly in the browser using the Clipboard API. </p> <h3>Registering The Service Worker</h3> <p>At the heart of this solution is the <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2016/02/making-a-service-worker/">service worker</a>. Our service worker is going to be responsible for retrieving the image from the <code>IndexedDB</code> store, uploading it when the internet connection is restored, and clearing the <code>IndexedDB</code> store when the image has been uploaded.</p> <p>To use a service worker, you first have to register one:</p> <div> <pre><code>if ('serviceWorker' in navigator) { navigator.serviceWorker.register('/service-worker.js') .then(reg =&gt; console.log('Service Worker registered', reg)) .catch(err =&gt; console.error('Service Worker registration failed', err)); } </code></pre> </div> <h3>Checking For Network Connectivity</h3> <p>Remember, the problem we are trying to solve is caused by <strong>unreliable network connectivity</strong>. If this problem does not exist, there is no point in trying to solve anything. Therefore, once the image is selected, we need to check if the user has a reliable internet connection before registering a sync event and storing the image in <code>IndexedDB</code>.</p> <pre><code>function uploadImage() { if (navigator.onLine) { // Upload Image } else { // register Sync Event // Store Images in IndexedDB } } </code></pre> <p><strong>Note</strong>: I’m only using the <code>navigator.onLine</code> property here to demonstrate how the system would work. The <code>navigator.onLine</code> property is <strong>unreliable</strong>, and I would suggest you come up with a custom solution to check whether the user is connected to the internet or not. One way you can do this is by sending a ping request to a server endpoint you’ve created.</p> <h3>Registering The Sync Event</h3> <p>Once the network test fails, the next step is to register a sync event. The sync event needs to be registered at the point where the system fails to upload the image due to a poor internet connection.</p> <pre><code>async function registerSyncEvent() { if ('SyncManager' in window) { const registration = await navigator.serviceWorker.ready; await registration.sync.register('uploadImages'); console.log('Background Sync registered'); } } </code></pre> <p>After registering the sync event, you need to listen for it in the service worker.</p> <pre><code>self.addEventListener('sync', (event) =&gt; { if (event.tag === 'uploadImages') { event.waitUntil(sendImages()); } }); </code></pre> <p>The <code>sendImages</code> function is going to be an asynchronous process that will retrieve the image from <code>IndexedDB</code> and upload it to the server. This is what it’s going to look like:</p> <pre><code>async function sendImages() { try { // await image retrieval and upload } catch (error) { // throw error } } </code></pre> <h3>Opening The Database</h3> <p>The first thing we need to do in order to store our image locally is to open an <code>IndexedDB</code> store. As you can see from the code below, we are creating <strong>a global variable to store the database instance</strong>. The reason for doing this is that, subsequently, when we want to retrieve our image from <code>IndexedDB</code>, we wouldn’t need to write the code to open the database again.</p> <div> <pre><code>let database; // Global variable to store the database instance function openDatabase() { return new Promise((resolve, reject) =&gt; { if (database) return resolve(database); // Return existing database instance const request = indexedDB.open("myDatabase", 1); request.onerror = (event) =&gt; { console.error("Database error:", event.target.error); reject(event.target.error); // Reject the promise on error }; request.onupgradeneeded = (event) =&gt; { const db = event.target.result; // Create the "images" object store if it doesn't exist. if (!db.objectStoreNames.contains("images")) { db.createObjectStore("images", { keyPath: "id" }); } console.log("Database setup complete."); }; request.onsuccess = (event) =&gt; { database = event.target.result; // Store the database instance globally resolve(database); // Resolve the promise with the database instance }; }); } </code></pre> </div> <h3>Storing The Image In IndexedDB</h3> <p>With the <code>IndexedDB</code> store open, we can now store our images.</p> <blockquote>Now, you may be wondering why an easier solution like <code>localStorage</code> wasn’t used for this purpose.<br><br>The reason for that is that <code>IndexedDB</code> operates asynchronously and doesn’t block the main JavaScript thread, whereas <code>localStorage</code> runs synchronously and can block the JavaScript main thread if it is being used.</blockquote> <p>Here’s how you can store the image in <code>IndexedDB</code>:</p> <div> <pre><code>async function storeImages(file) { // Open the IndexedDB database. const db = await openDatabase(); // Create a transaction with read and write access. const transaction = db.transaction("images", "readwrite"); // Access the "images" object store. const store = transaction.objectStore("images"); // Define the image record to be stored. const imageRecord = { id: IMAGE_ID, // a unique ID image: file // Store the image file (Blob) }; // Add the image record to the store. const addRequest = store.add(imageRecord); // Handle successful addition. addRequest.onsuccess = () =&gt; console.log("Image added successfully!"); // Handle errors during insertion. addRequest.onerror = (e) =&gt; console.error("Error storing image:", e.target.error); } </code></pre> </div> <p>With the images stored and the background sync set, the system is ready to upload the image whenever the network connection is restored.</p> <h3>Retrieving And Uploading The Images</h3> <p>Once the network connection is restored, the sync event will fire, and the service worker will retrieve the image from <code>IndexedDB</code> and upload it.</p> <div> <pre><code>async function retrieveAndUploadImage(IMAGE_ID) { try { const db = await openDatabase(); // Ensure the database is open const transaction = db.transaction("images", "readonly"); const store = transaction.objectStore("images"); const request = store.get(IMAGE_ID); request.onsuccess = function (event) { const image = event.target.result; if (image) { // upload Image to server here } else { console.log("No image found with ID:", IMAGE_ID); } }; request.onerror = () =&gt; { console.error("Error retrieving image."); }; } catch (error) { console.error("Failed to open database:", error); } } </code></pre> </div> <h3>Deleting The IndexedDB Database</h3> <p>Once the image has been uploaded, the <code>IndexedDB</code> store is no longer needed. Therefore, it should be deleted along with its content to free up storage.</p> <div> <pre><code>function deleteDatabase() { // Check if there's an open connection to the database. if (database) { database.close(); // Close the database connection console.log("Database connection closed."); } // Request to delete the database named "myDatabase". const deleteRequest = indexedDB.deleteDatabase("myDatabase"); // Handle successful deletion of the database. deleteRequest.onsuccess = function () { console.log("Database deleted successfully!"); }; // Handle errors that occur during the deletion process. deleteRequest.onerror = function (event) { console.error("Error deleting database:", event.target.error); }; // Handle cases where the deletion is blocked (e.g., if there are still open connections). deleteRequest.onblocked = function () { console.warn("Database deletion blocked. Close open connections and try again."); }; } </code></pre> </div> <p>With that, the entire process is complete!</p> Considerations And Limitations <p>While we’ve done a lot to help improve the experience by supporting offline uploads, the system is not without its limitations. I figured I would specifically call those out because it’s worth knowing where this solution might fall short of your needs.</p> <ul> <li> <strong>No Reliable Internet Connectivity Detection</strong><br>JavaScript does not provide a foolproof way to detect online status. For this reason, you need to come up with a custom solution for detecting online status.</li> <li> <strong>Chromium-Only Solution</strong><br>The Background Sync API is currently <a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Background_Synchronization_API#browser_compatibility">limited to Chromium-based browsers</a>. As such, this solution is only supported by Chromium browsers. That means you will need a more robust solution if you have the majority of your users on non-Chromium browsers.</li> <li> <strong><code>IndexedDB</code> Storage Policies</strong><br>Browsers impose storage limitations and eviction policies for <code>IndexedDB</code>. For instance, in Safari, data stored in <code>IndexedDB</code> has a lifespan of seven days if the user doesn’t interact with the website. This is something you should bear in mind if you do come up with an alternative for the background sync API that supports Safari.</li> </ul> Enhancing The User Experience <p>Since the entire process happens in the background, we need a way to inform the users when images are stored, waiting to be uploaded, or have been successfully uploaded. Implementing certain <strong>UI elements</strong> for this purpose will indeed enhance the experience for the users. These UI elements may include toast notifications, upload status indicators like spinners (to show active processes), progress bars (to show state progress), network status indicators, or buttons to provide retry and cancel options.</p> Wrapping Up <p>Poor internet connectivity can disrupt the user experience of a web application. However, by leveraging PWA technologies such as <code>IndexedDB</code>, service workers, and the Background Sync API, developers can help improve the reliability of web applications for their users, especially those in areas with unreliable internet connectivity.</p>

<p>Efficient navigation is vital for a functional website, but not everyone uses the internet the same way. While most visitors either scroll on mobile or click through with a mouse, many people only use their keyboards. Up to <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-carpal-tunnel-syndrome">10 million American adults</a> have carpal tunnel syndrome, which may cause pain when holding a mouse, and vision problems can make it difficult to follow a cursor. Consequently, you should keep your site <strong>keyboard navigable</strong> to achieve universal appeal and accessibility.</p> Understanding Keyboard Navigation <p>Keyboard navigation allows users to engage with your website solely through keyboard input. That includes using shortcuts and selecting elements with the Tab and Enter keys.</p> <p>There are <a href="https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/computer-shortcut-keys/">more than 500 keyboard shortcuts</a> among operating systems and specific apps your audience may use. Standard ones for web navigation include Ctrl + F to find words or resources, Shift + Arrow to select text, and Ctrl + Tab to move between browser tabs. While these are largely the responsibilities of the software companies behind the specific browser or OS, you should still consider them.</p> <p><strong>Single-button navigation</strong> is another vital piece of keyboard navigability. Users may move between clickable items with the Tab and Shift keys, use the Arrow keys to scroll, press Enter or Space to “click” a link, and exit pop-ups with Esc.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/what-mean-site-be-keyboard-navigable/1-washington-post-homepage.png"></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/">Washington Post homepage</a> goes further. Pressing Tab highlights clickable elements as it should, but the first button press brings up a link to the site’s accessibility statement first. Users can navigate past this, but including it highlights how the design understands how <strong>keyboard navigability is a matter of accessibility</strong>. </p> <p>You should understand how people may use these controls so you can build a site that facilitates them. These navigation options are generally standard, so any deviation or lack of functionality will stand out. Ensuring keyboard navigability, especially in terms of enabling these specific shortcuts and controls, will help you meet such expectations and avoid turning users away. </p> Why Keyboard Navigation Matters In Web Design <p>Keyboard navigability is crucial for a few reasons. Most notably, it makes your site more accessible. In the U.S. alone, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0716-Adult-disability.html">over one in four people</a> have a disability, and many such conditions affect technology use. For instance, motor impairments make it challenging for someone to use a standard mouse, and users with vision problems typically require keyboard and screen reader use.</p> <p>Beyond accounting for various usage needs, enabling a wider range of control methods makes a site convenient. Using a keyboard rather than a mouse is faster when it works as it should and may feel more comfortable. Considering how workers spend <a href="https://winfosoft.com/about-us/blogs-insights/benefits-of-implementing-erp-system/">nearly a third of their workweek</a> looking for information, any obstacles to efficiency can be highly disruptive.</p> <p>Falling short in these areas may lead to legal complications. Regulations like the <strong>Americans with Disabilities Act</strong> necessitate tech accessibility. While the ADA <a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB10845">has no binding rules</a> for what constitutes an accessible website, it specifically mentions keyboard navigation in its nonbinding guidance. Failing to support such functionality does not necessarily mean you’ll face legal penalties, but courts can use these standards to inform their decision on whether your site is reasonably accessible.</p> <p>In 2023, Kitchenaid <a href="https://topclassactions.com/disability-class-action-lawsuit/whirlpool-class-action-alleges-kitchenaid-website-not-accessible-to-visually-impaired-blind-visitors/">faced a class-action lawsuit</a> for failing to meet such standards. Plaintiffs alleged that the company’s site didn’t support alt text or keyboard navigation, making it inaccessible to users with visual impairments. While the case ultimately settled out of court, it’s a reminder of the <strong>potential legal and financial repercussions of overlooking inclusivity</strong>. </p> <p>Outside the law, an inaccessible site presents <strong>ethical concerns</strong>, as it shows preferential treatment for those who can use a mouse, even if that’s unintentional. Even without legal action, public recognition of this bias may lead to a drop in visitors and a tainted public image.</p> Elements Of A Keyboard-Navigable Site <p>Thankfully, ensuring <strong>keyboard navigability</strong> is a straightforward user experience design practice. Because navigation is standard across OSes and browsers, keyboard-accessible sites employ a few consistent elements.</p> <h3>Focus Indicators</h3> <p>Web Accessibility In Mind states that sites <a href="https://webaim.org/techniques/keyboard/">must provide a visual indicator</a> of elements currently in focus when users press Tab. Focus indicators are typically a simple box around the highlighted icon.</p> <p>These are standard in CSS, but some designers hide them, so avoid using <code>outline:0</code> or <code>outline:none</code> to limit their visibility. You can also increase the contrast or change the indicator’s color in CSS.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/what-mean-site-be-keyboard-navigable/3-cnn-homepage.png"></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.cnn.com/">CNN Breaking News homepage</a> is a good example of <strong>a strong focus indicator</strong>. Pressing Tab immediately brings up the box, which is bold enough to see easily and even uses a white border when necessary to stand out against black or dark-colored site elements.</p> <h3>Logical Tab Order</h3> <p>The order in which the focus indicator moves between elements also matters. Generally speaking, pressing the Tab key should move it from left to right and top to bottom — the same way people read in English.</p> <p>A few errors can stand in the way. Disabled buttons <a href="https://designerly.com/disabled-buttons/">disrupt keyboard navigation flow</a> by skipping an element with no explanation or highlighting it without making it clickable. Similarly, an interface where icons don’t fall in a predictable left-to-right, top-to-bottom order will make logical tab movement difficult.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/what-mean-site-be-keyboard-navigable/4-sutton-maddock-vehicle-rental-site.png"></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.suttonmaddock.co.uk/">Sutton Maddock Vehicle Rental</a> site is a good example of what not to do. When you press Tab, the focus indicator jumps from “Contact” to the Facebook link before going backward to the Twitter link. It starts at the right and moves left when it goes to the next line — the opposite order of what feels natural.</p> <h3>Skip Navigation Links</h3> <p>Skip links are also essential. These interactive elements let keyboard users jump to specific content without repeated keystrokes. Remember, these skips must be one of the first areas highlighted when you press Tab so they work as intended.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/what-mean-site-be-keyboard-navigable/5-hsbc-group-homepage.png"></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.hsbc.com/">HSBC Group homepage</a> has a few skip navigation links. Pressing Tab pulls up three options, letting users quickly jump to whichever part of the site interests them.</p> <h3>Keyboard-Accessible Interactive Elements</h3> <p>Finally, all interactive elements on a keyboard-navigable site should be accessible via <strong>keystrokes</strong>. Anything people can click on or drag with a cursor should also support navigation and interaction. Enabling this is as simple as letting users select all items with the Tab or Arrow keys and press them with Space or Enter.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/what-mean-site-be-keyboard-navigable/6-arizona-state-university-keyboard-accessibility.png"></p> <p>Appropriately, this <a href="https://accessibility.asu.edu/articles/keyboard">Arizona State University page on keyboard accessibility</a> showcases this concept well. All drop-down menus are possible to open by navigating to them via Tab and pressing Enter, so users don’t need a mouse to interact with them.</p> How to Test for Keyboard Navigability <p>After designing a keyboard-accessible UX, you should test it to ensure that it works properly. The easiest way to do this is to explore the site solely with your keyboard. The chart below outlines the criteria to look for when determining whether your site is legitimately keyboard navigable.</p> <table> <thead><tr> <th></th> <th>Keyboard Navigable</th> <th>Not Keyboard Navigable</th> </tr></thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Clickable Elements</strong></td> <td>All elements are reachable through the keyboard and open when you press Enter.</td> <td>Only some elements are possible to reach through the keyboard. Some links may be broken or not open when you press Enter.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Focus Indicators</strong></td> <td>Pressing Tab, Space, or Enter brings up a focus indicator that is easy to see in all browsers.</td> <td>Focus indicators may not appear when pressing all buttons. The box may be hard to see or only appear in some browsers.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Skip Navigation Links</strong></td> <td>Pressing Tab for the first time pulls up at least one skip link to take users to much-visited content or menus. Continuing to press Tab moves the focus indicator past these links to highlight elements on the page as normal.</td> <td>No skip links appear when pressing Tab for the first time. Alternatively, they appear after moving through all other elements. Skip links may not be functional.</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Screen Reader Support</strong></td> <td>Screen readers can read each element when highlighted with the focus indicator.</td> <td>Some elements may not encourage any action from screen readers when highlighted.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The <strong>Web Content Accessibility Guidelines</strong> <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/keyboard.html">outline two test rules</a> to verify keyboard navigability:</p> <ol> <li>The first ensures all interactive elements are accessible via the Tab key,</li> <li>The second checks for keyboard scroll functionality.</li> </ol> <p>Employ both standards to review your UX before making a site live.</p> <p>Typical issues include the inability to highlight elements with the Tab key or things that don’t fall in a natural order. You can discover both problems by trying to access everything with your keyboard. However, you may prefer to conduct a navigability audit through a third party. Many private companies offer these services, but you can also <a href="https://www.boia.org/">use the Bureau of Internet Accessibility</a> for a basic WCAG audit.</p> Make Your Site Keyboard Navigable Today <p>Keyboard navigability ensures you cater to all needs and preferences for an inclusive, accessible website design. While it’s straightforward to implement, it’s also easy to miss, so remember these principles when designing your UX and testing your site.</p> <p>WCAG provides several techniques you can employ to meet keyboard accessibility standards and enhance your users’ experience:</p> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Techniques/general/G90">Technique G90</a>, for keyboard-triggered event handlers</li> <li> <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Techniques/general/G202">Technique G202</a>, for general keyboard functionality</li> <li> <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Techniques/html/H91">Technique H91</a>, for forming controls and links in HTML</li> </ul> <p>Follow these guidelines and use WCAG’s test rules to create an accessible site. Remember to re-check it every time you add elements or change your UX.</p> <p>Additionally, consider the following recommended reads to learn more about keyboards and their role in accessibility:</p> <ul> <li>“<a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2022/11/guide-keyboard-accessibility-html-css-part1/">A Guide To Keyboard Accessibility: HTML And CSS (Part 1)</a>,” Cristian Díaz</li> <li>“<a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2022/11/guide-keyboard-accessibility-javascript-part2/">A Guide To Keyboard Accessibility: JavaScript (Part 2)</a>,” Cristian Díaz</li> <li>“<a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2020/05/complete-guide-mechanical-keyboards/">A Complete Guide To Mechanical Keyboards</a>,” Ben Frain</li> <li>“<a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2019/07/ux-improvements-keyboard-accessibility/">UX Improvements For Keyboard Accessibility</a>,” Vitaly Friedman</li> <li>“<a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2018/07/web-with-just-a-keyboard/">I Used The Web For A Day With Just A Keyboard</a>,” Chris Ashton</li> </ul> <p>User-friendliness is an industry best practice that demonstrates your commitment to inclusivity for all. Even users without disabilities will appreciate intuitive, efficient keyboard navigation.</p>

<p>A year ago, I learned that my role as an accessibility engineer was at risk of redundancy. It was a tough moment, both professionally and personally. For quite some time, my mind raced with guilt, self-doubt, plain sadness... But as I sat with these emotions, I found one line of thought that felt productive: reflection. What did I do well? What could I have done better? What did I learn?</p> <p>Looking back, I realized that as part of a small team in a massive organization, we focused on a long-term goal that we also believed was the most effective and sustainable path: gradually shaping the organization’s culture to embrace accessibility.</p> <p>Around the same time, I started listening to <a href="https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits">“Atomic Habits” by James Clear</a>. The connection was immediate. Habits and culture are tightly linked concepts, and fostering an accessibility culture was really about <strong>embedding accessibility habits into everyone’s processes</strong>. That’s what we focused on. It took us time (and plenty of trial and error) to figure this out, and while there’s no definitive playbook for creating an accessibility program at a large organization, I thought it might help others if I shared my experiences.</p> <p><strong>Before we dive in, here’s a quick note</strong>: <em>This is purely my personal perspective, and you’ll find a bias towards culture and action in big organizations. I’m not speaking on behalf of any employer, past or present. The progress we made was thanks to the incredible efforts of every member of the team and beyond. I hope these reflections resonate with those looking to foster an accessibility culture at their own companies.</em></p> Goals Vs. Systems <p>To effectively shape habits, it’s crucial to focus on systems and processes (who we want to become) rather than obsessing over a final goal (or what we want to achieve). This perspective is especially relevant in accessibility.</p> <p>Take the goal of making your app accessible. If you focus solely on achieving compliance without changing your systems (embedding accessibility into processes and culture), progress will be temporary.</p> <p>For example, you might request an accessibility audit and fix the flagged issues to achieve compliance. While this can provide “quick” results, it’s often a short-lived solution. </p> <p>Software evolves constantly: features are rewritten, old code is removed, and new functionality is added. Without an underlying system in place, accessibility issues can quickly resurface. Worse, this approach may reinforce the idea that accessibility is something external, checked by someone else, and fixed only when flagged. Not to mention that <a href="https://www.browserstack.com/guide/what-is-shift-left-testing">it becomes increasingly expensive the later accessibility issues are addressed in the process</a>. It can also feel demoralizing when accessibility becomes synonymous with a long list of last-minute tickets when you are busiest.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/fostering-accessibility-culture/bug-fix-cost.jpg"></p> <p>Despite this, companies constantly focus on the goal rather than the systems.</p> <blockquote>“Accessibility is both a state and a practice.”<br><br>— Sommer Panage, SwiftTO talk, “<a href="https://youtu.be/sb_fhIa3PKg?si=YUKpoxB31-yhv7yD">Building Accessibility into Your Company, Team, and Culture</a>”</blockquote> <p>I’ll take the liberty of tweaking that to an aspirational state. Without recognizing the importance of the practice, any progress made is at risk of regression.</p> <p>Instead, I encourage organizations to focus on building habits and embedding good accessibility practices into their workflows. A strong system not only ensures lasting progress but also fosters a culture where accessibility becomes second nature.</p> What Is Your Actual Goal? <p>That doesn’t mean goals are useless — they’re very effective in setting up direction. </p> <p>In my team, we often said (only half-jokingly) that our ultimate goal was to put ourselves out of a job. This mindset reflects an important principle: <strong>accessibility is a cross-organizational responsibility</strong>, not the task of a single person or team.</p> <p>That’s why, in my opinion, focusing solely on compliance rather than culture transformation (or prioritizing the “state” of accessibility over the “practice”) is a flawed strategy.</p> <p>The real goal should be to build <strong>a user-centric culture</strong> where accessibility is embedded in every workflow, decision, and process. By doing so, companies can create products where accessibility is not about checking boxes and closing tickets but delivering <strong>meaningful and inclusive experiences</strong> to all users.</p> How Do We Get There? <p>Different companies (of various sizes, structures, and cultures) will approach accessibility differently, depending on where they are in their journey. I still have to meet, though, an accessibility team that ever felt they had enough resources. This makes careful resource allocation a cornerstone of your strategy. And while there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, shifting left (addressing issues earlier in the development process) tends to be the most effective approach in most cases.</p> <h3>Design Systems</h3> <p>If your company has a design system, partnering with the team that owns it can be one of your biggest wins. Fixing a single component used across dozens of places improves the experience everywhere it’s used. This approach scales beautifully.</p> <p>Involvement in foundational decisions and discussions, like choosing color palettes, typography, and component interactions, and so on, can also be very valuable. Contributing to documentation and guidelines tailored to accessibility can help teams across the organization make informed decisions.</p> <p>For a deeper dive, I recommend Feli Bernutz’s excellent talk, “<a href="https://youtu.be/tHYtjAXnQcI?si=FpkSxJ3QQ86aaOu6">Designing APIs: How to Ensure Accessibility in Design Systems</a>.”</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/fostering-accessibility-culture/inforgraphic-showing-stats-purple-pound.jpg"></p> <p>Still, I would encourage everyone to strive to change that mindset.</p> <p>Doing accessibility for economic or legal reasons is valid, but it can lead to perverse incentives, where the bare minimum and compliance become the strategy, or where teams constantly need to prove their return on investment.</p> <p>It is better to do it for the “wrong” reasons than not to do it at all. But ultimately, those aren’t the reasons we should be doing it. </p> <p>The “<a href="https://www.bemyeyes.com/podcasts/who-invented-voiceover/">13 Letters</a>” podcast opened with an incredibly interesting two-part episode featuring Mike Shebanek. In it, Mike explains how Apple eventually renewed its commitment to accessibility because, in the state of Maine, schools were providing Macs and needed a screen reader for students who required one. It seems like a somewhat business-driven decision. But years later, Tim Cook famously stated, “<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2014/03/07/why-tim-cook-doesnt-care-about-the-bloody-roi/">When we work on making our devices accessible by the blind, I don’t consider the bloody ROI.</a>” He also remarked, “<a href="https://x.com/tim_cook/status/624584736862679040">Accessibility rights are human rights.</a>”</p> <p>That’s the mindset I wish more CEOs and leaders had. It is a story of how a change of mindset from “we have to do it” to “it is a core part of what we do” leads to a lasting and successful accessibility culture. Going beyond the bare minimum, Apple has become a leader in accessibility. An innovative company that consistently makes products more accessible and pushes the entire industry forward.</p> The Good News <p>Once good habits are established, they tend to stick around. When I was let go, some people (I’m sure trying to comfort me) said the accessibility of the app would quickly regress and that the company would soon realize their mistake. Unexpectedly for them, I responded that I actually hoped it wouldn’t regress anytime soon. That, to me, would be the sign that I had done my job well.</p> <p>And honestly, I felt confident it wouldn’t. Incredible people with deep knowledge and a passion for accessibility and building high-quality products stayed at the company. I knew the app was in good hands.</p> <p>But it’s important not to fall into complacency. Cultures can be taken for granted, but they need constant <strong>nurturing</strong> and <strong>protection</strong>. A company that hires too fast, undergoes a major layoff, gets acquired, experiences high turnover, or sees changes in leadership or priorities… Any of these can pretty quickly destabilize something that took years to build.</p> Wrapping Up <p>This might not be your experience, and what we did may not work for you, but I hope you find this insight useful. I have, as they say, strong opinions, but loosely held. So I’m looking forward to knowing what you think and learning about your experiences too.</p> <p>There’s no easy way or silver bullet! It’s actually very hard! The odds are against you. And we tend to constantly be puzzled about why the world is against us doing something that seems so obviously the right thing to do: to invite and include as many people as possible to use your product, to remove barriers, to avoid exclusion. It is important to talk about <strong>exclusion</strong>, too, when we talk about accessibility.</p> <blockquote>“Even though we were all talking about inclusion, we each had a different understanding of that word. Exclusion, on the other hand, is unanimously understood as being left out (...) Once we learn how to recognize exclusion, we can begin to see where a product or experience that works well for some might have barriers for someone else. Recognizing exclusion sparks a new kind of creativity on how a solution can be better.”<br><br>— <a href="https://www.campaignlive.com/article/recognizing-exclusion-key-inclusive-design-conversation-kat-holmes/1488872">Kat Holmes</a> </blockquote> <p>Something that might help: always assume goodwill and try to meet people where they are. I need to remind myself of this quite often.</p> <blockquote>“It is all about understanding where people are, meeting them where they’re at (...) People want to fundamentally do the right thing (...) They might not know what they don’t know (...) It might mean stepping back and going to the fundamentals (...) I know some people get frustrated about having to re-explain accessibility over and over again, but I believe that if we are not willing to do that, then how are we gonna change the hearts and minds of people?”<br><br>— <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bencongleton_ndeam-goodjobsforall-inclusionworks-activity-7257013809737789440-CRwS?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAAddFqsBZwIBQzaaJzWCPkPlL5CFAxXi5Rc">Jennison Asuncion</a> </blockquote> <p>I’d encourage you to:</p> <ul> <li>If you haven’t, just start. No matter what.</li> <li>Play the long game, and focus more on systems and processes than just goals.</li> <li>Build a network: rally allies around you and secure buy-in from leadership by showing that accessibility is not extra work; if considered after the fact, they’re actually missed steps.</li> <li>Shift left and be strategic: reflect on where your limited resources can have the biggest, most lasting impact.</li> <li>Be persistent. Be resilient.</li> </ul> <p>But honestly, anything you can do is progress. And progress is all we need, just for things to be a little better every day. Your job is incredibly important. Thanks for all you do!</p> <p>Accessibility: This is the way!</p>

<p>Dark mode, a beloved feature in modern digital interfaces, offers a visually striking alternative to traditional light themes. Its allure lies in the striking visual contrast it provides, a departure from the light themes that have dominated our screens for decades. </p> <p>However, its design often misses the mark on an important element — accessibility. For users with visual impairments or sensitivities, <a href="https://builtin.com/articles/myths-realities-dark-mode-ui">dark mode can introduce significant challenges</a> if not thoughtfully implemented.</p> <p>Hence, designing themes with these users in mind can improve user comfort in low-light settings while creating <strong>a more equitable digital experience</strong> for everyone. Let’s take a look at exactly how this can be done. </p> The Pros And Cons Of Dark Modes In Terms Of Accessibility <p>Dark mode can offer tangible accessibility benefits when implemented with care. For many users, especially those who experience <strong>light sensitivity</strong>, a well-calibrated dark theme can reduce eye strain and provide a more comfortable reading experience. In low-light settings, the softer background tones and reduced glare may <a href="https://www.nngroup.com/articles/dark-mode-users-issues/">help lessen fatigue and improve visual focus</a>.</p> <p>However, these benefits are not universal. For some users, particularly those with conditions such as <a href="https://www.boia.org/blog/dark-mode-can-improve-text-readability-but-not-for-everyone">astigmatism or low contrast sensitivity</a>, dark mode can actually compromise readability. Light text on a dark background may lead to blurred edges or halo effects around characters, making it harder to distinguish content. </p> The Role Of Contrast In Dark Mode Accessibility <p>When you’re designing, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2022/09/realities-myths-contrast-color/">contrast isn’t just another design element</a>, it’s a key player in dark mode’s overall readability and accessibility. A well-designed dark mode, with the right contrast, can also enhance user engagement, creating <strong>a more immersive experience</strong> and drawing users into the content.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/inclusive-dark-mode-designing-accessible-dark-themes/6-contrast-in-dark-mode.png"></p> <p>First and foremost, cleverly executing your site’s dark mode will result in a lower bounce rate (<a href="https://web.dev/case-studies/terra-dark-mode">as much as 70%, according to one case study from Brazil</a>). You can then further hack this statistic and greet visitors with a deep black, <a href="https://bluetree.digital/paid-vs-organic-search/">reinforcing your rankings in organic search results</a> by sending positive signals to Google. </p> <p>How is this possible? Well, the <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-49282-3_13">darker tones can hold attention longer</a>, especially in low-light settings, leading to <strong>higher interaction rates</strong> while making your design more accessible. The point is, without proper contrast, even the sleekest dark mode design can become difficult to navigate and uncomfortable to use. </p> Designing For Contrast In Dark Mode <p>Instead of using pure black backgrounds, which can cause eye strain and make text harder to read, opt for <strong>dark grays</strong>. These <a href="https://www.canva.com/learn/contrasting-colors/">softer tones help reduce harsh contrast</a> and provide a modern look. </p> <p>However, it’s important to note that color adjustments alone don’t solve technical challenges like <strong>anti-aliasing</strong>. In dark mode, anti-aliasing has the problem of <strong>halo effects</strong>, where the edges of the text appear blurred or overly luminous. To mitigate these issues, designers should test their interfaces on various devices and browsers and consider <a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/font-smooth">CSS properties</a> to improve text clarity. </p> <p><strong>Real-world user testing</strong>, especially with individuals who have visual impairments, is essential to fine-tune these details and ensure an accessible experience for all users.</p> <p>For individuals with low vision or color blindness, the right contrast can mean the difference between a frustrating and a seamless user experience. To keep your dark mode design looking its best, don’t forget to also:</p> <ul> <li>Try to choose high-contrast color combinations for improved readability.</li> <li>Make sure you avoid overly saturated colors, as they can strain the eyes in dark mode.</li> <li>Use <a href="https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/">contrast checker tools like WebAIM</a> to evaluate your design choices and ensure accessibility.</li> </ul> <p>These simple adjustments make a big difference in creating a dark mode that everyone can use comfortably.</p> The Importance Of Readability In Dark Themes <p>While dark themes provide a sleek and visually appealing interface, some features still require lighter colors to remain functional and readable. </p> <p>Certain interactive elements like buttons or form fields <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2017/06/designing-efficient-web-forms/">need to be easily distinguishable</a>, especially if it involves transactions or providing personal information. Simply put, no one <a href="https://apryse.com/capabilities/digital-signature">wants to sign documents digitally</a> if they have to look for the right field, nor do they want to make a transaction <a href="https://britepayments.com/resources/article/drivers-and-solutions-of-e-commerce-checkout-friction/">if there is friction</a>. </p> <p>In addition to human readability, <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2020/10/developing-semantic-web/">machine readability is equally important</a> in an age of increased automation. Machine readability refers to how effective computers and bots are at extracting and processing data from the interface without human intervention. It’s important for pretty much any type of interface that has automation built into the workflows. For example, if the interface utilizes machine learning, <a href="https://www.xbrl.org/news/the-value-of-structured-machine-readable-data-in-training-generative-ai/">machine readability is essential</a>. Machine learning relies on accurate, quality data and effective interaction between different modules and systems, which makes machine readability critical to make it effective.</p> <p>You can help ensure your dark mode interface is machine-readable in the following ways:</p> <ul> <li> <strong>Use clear, semantic markup.</strong><br>Write your HTML so that it naturally describes the structure of the page. This means using proper tags (like <code>&lt;header&gt;</code>, <code>&lt;nav&gt;</code>, <code>&lt;main&gt;</code>, and <code>&lt;footer&gt;</code>) and ARIA roles. When your code is organized this way, machines can read and understand your page better, regardless of whether it's in dark or light mode.</li> <li> <strong>Keep the structure consistent across themes.</strong><br>Whether users choose dark mode or light mode, the underlying structure of your content should remain the same. This consistency ensures that screen readers and other accessibility tools can interpret the page without confusion.</li> <li> <strong>Maintain good color contrast.</strong><br>In dark mode, use color choices that meet accessibility standards. This not only helps people with low vision but also ensures that automated tools can verify your design’s accessibility.</li> <li> <strong>Implement responsive styles with media queries.</strong><br>Use <a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/@media/prefers-color-scheme">CSS media queries like ‘prefers-color-scheme’</a> to automatically adjust the interface based on the user’s system settings. This makes sure that the switch between dark and light modes happens smoothly and predictably, which helps both users and assistive technologies process the content correctly.</li> </ul> <p>Making sure that data, especially in automated systems, is clear and accessible prevents functionality breakdowns and guarantees seamless workflows.</p> Best Strategies For Designing Accessible Dark Themes <p>Although we associate visual accessibility with visual impairments, the truth is that it’s actually meant for everyone. Easier access is something we all strive for, right? But more than anything, <strong>practicality is what matters</strong>. Fortunately, the strategies below fit the description to a tee. </p> <h3>Strengthen Contrast For Usability</h3> <p>Contrast is the backbone of dark mode design. Without proper implementation, elements blend together, creating a frustrating user experience. Instead of looking at contrast as just a relationship between colors, try to view it in the context of other UI elements:</p> <ul> <li> <strong>Rethink background choices.</strong><br>Instead of pure black, which can cause harsh contrast and eye strain, <a href="https://www.color-hex.com/color/121212">use dark gray shades like #121212</a>. These tones offer a softer, more adaptable visual experience.</li> <li> <strong>Prioritize key elements.</strong><br>Ensure interactive elements like buttons and links <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/G18.html">have contrast ratios exceeding 4.5:1</a>. This not only aids readability but also emphasizes functionality.</li> <li> <strong>Test in real environments.</strong><br>Simulate low-light and high-glare conditions to see how contrast performs in real-life scenarios.</li> </ul> <h3>Pay Special Attention To Typography In Dark Themes</h3> <p>The <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2012/04/when-typography-speaks-louder-than-words/">use of effective typography is vital</a> for preserving readability in dark mode. In particular, the right font choice can make your design both visually appealing and functional, while the wrong one can cause strain and confusion for users. </p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/inclusive-dark-mode-designing-accessible-dark-themes/2-darkmode-font.png"></p> <p>Thus, when designing dark themes, it’s essential to prioritize text clarity without sacrificing aesthetics. You can do this by prioritizing:</p> <ul> <li> <strong>Sans-serif fonts</strong><br>They are often <a href="https://www.kimp.io/sans-serif-fonts/">the best option for dark mode</a>, as they offer a clean, modern look and remain highly readable when paired with a well-balanced contrast. </li> <li> <strong>Strategic use of light elements</strong><br>Consider incorporating subtle, lighter accents to emphasize key elements, such as headings, call-to-action buttons, or critical information, without fully shifting to a light mode. These accents act as visual cues, drawing attention to important content.</li> <li> <strong>Proper font metrics and stylization</strong><br>It’s important to consider font size and weight—larger, bolder fonts tend to stand out better against dark backgrounds, ensuring that your text is easy to read.</li> </ul> <h3>Make Sure Your Color Integration Is Thoughtful</h3> <p>Colors in dark mode require a delicate balance to ensure accessibility. It’s not as simple as looking at a list of complimentary color pairs and basing your designs around them. Instead, you must think about how users with visual impairments will experience the dark theme design. </p> <p>While avoiding color combinations like red and green for the sake of colorblind users is a widely known rule, visual impairment is more than just color blindness. In particular, you have to pay attention to:</p> <ul> <li> <strong>Low vision</strong>: Ensure text is clear with strong contrast and scalable fonts. Avoid thin typefaces and cluttered layouts for better readability.</li> <li> <strong>Light sensitivity</strong> (photophobia): Minimize bright elements against dark backgrounds to reduce eye strain. Provide brightness and contrast adjustment options for comfort.</li> <li> <strong>Glaucoma</strong>: Use bold, clear fonts and simplify layouts to minimize visual confusion. Focus on reducing clutter and enhancing readability.</li> <li> <strong>Macular degeneration</strong>: Provide large text and high-contrast visuals to aid users with central vision loss. Refrain from relying on centrally aligned, intricate elements.</li> <li> <strong>Diabetic retinopathy</strong>: Keep designs simple, avoiding patterns or textures that obscure content. Use high-contrast and well-spaced elements for clarity.</li> <li> <strong>Retinitis pigmentosa</strong>: Place essential elements centrally with high contrast for those with peripheral vision loss. Avoid spreading critical information across wide areas.</li> <li> <strong>Cataracts</strong>: Reduce glare by using dark gray backgrounds instead of pure black. Incorporate soft, muted colors, and avoid sharp contrasts.</li> <li> <strong>Night blindness</strong>: Provide bright, legible text with balanced contrast against dark themes. Steer clear of overly dim elements that can strain vision.</li> </ul> <p>As you can see, there are a lot of different considerations. Something you need to account for is that it’s nigh-on impossible to have a solution that will fix all the issues. You can’t test an interface for every single individual who uses it. The best you can do is <strong>make it as accessible as possible for as many users as possible</strong>, and you can always make adjustments in later iterations if there are major issues for a segment of users.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/inclusive-dark-mode-designing-accessible-dark-themes/3-examples-different-dark-mode-apps.png"></p> Understanding Color Perception And Visual Impairments To Get The Ideal Dark Mode <p>Even though dark mode doesn’t target only users with visual impairments, their input and ease of use are perhaps the most important. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/color-theory-for-designers-part-1-the-meaning-of-color/">role of color perception</a> in dark mode varies significantly among users, especially for those with visual impairments like color blindness or low vision. These conditions can make it challenging to distinguish certain colors on dark backgrounds, which can affect how users navigate and interact with your design.</p> <p>In particular, some colors that seem vibrant in light mode may appear muted or blend into the background, making it difficult for users to see or interact with key elements. This is exactly why <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2018/03/guide-user-testing/">testing your color palette across different displays and lighting conditions</a> is essential to ensure consistency and accessibility. However, you probably won’t be able to test for every single screen type, device, or environmental condition. Once again, make the dark mode interface as accessible as possible, and make adjustments in later iterations based on feedback.</p> <p>For users with visual impairments, accessible color palettes can make a significant difference in their experience. Interactive elements, such as buttons or links, need to stand out clearly from the rest of the design, using colors that provide strong contrast and clear visual cues.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/inclusive-dark-mode-designing-accessible-dark-themes/4-slack-visual-impairments.png"></p> <p>In the example above, Slack did an amazing job providing users with visual impairments with premade options. That way, someone can save hours of valuable time. If it wasn’t obvious by now, apps that do this find much more success in customer attraction (and retention) than those that don’t. </p> Making Dark Mode A User Choice <p>Dark mode is often celebrated for its ability to reduce screen glare and blue light, making it more comfortable for users <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2020/09/design-reduced-motion-sensitivities/">who experience certain visual sensitivities</a>, like eye strain or discomfort from bright screens. </p> <p>For many, this creates a more pleasant browsing experience, particularly in low-light environments. However, dark mode isn’t a perfect solution for everyone.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/inclusive-dark-mode-designing-accessible-dark-themes/5-light-mode-vs-dark-mode.png"></p> <p>Users with astigmatism, for instance, <a href="https://www.boia.org/blog/dark-mode-can-improve-text-readability-but-not-for-everyone">may find it difficult to read light text on a dark background</a>. The contrast can cause the text to blur or create halos, making it harder to focus. Likewise, some users prefer dark mode for its reduced eye strain, while others may find it harder to read or simply prefer light mode.</p> <p>These different factors mean that <strong>adaptability</strong> is important to better accommodate users who may have certain visual sensitivities. You can <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/73693983/add-button-to-switch-between-light-and-dark-mode-using-two-prefers-color-scheme">allow users to toggle between dark and light modes</a> based on their preferences. For even greater comfort, think of providing options to customize text colors and background shades.</p> <p>Switching between dark and light modes should also be <strong>smooth</strong> and <strong>unobtrusive</strong>. Whether you’re working in a bright office or relaxing in a dimly lit room, the transition should never disrupt your workflow. </p> <p>On top of that, remembering your preferences automatically for future sessions creates a consistent and thoughtful user experience. These adjustments turn dark mode into a truly personalized feature, tailored to elevate every interaction you have with the interface.</p> Conclusion <p>While dark mode offers benefits like reduced eye strain and energy savings, it still has its limits. Focusing on key elements like contrast, readability, typography, and color perception helps guarantee that your <a href="https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2018/04/designing-accessibility-inclusion/">designs are inclusive and user-friendly</a> for all of your users.</p> <p>Offering dark mode as an optional, customizable feature empowers users to interact with your interface in a way that best suits their needs. Meanwhile, prioritizing accessibility in dark mode design creates a more equitable digital experience for everyone, regardless of their abilities or preferences. </p>

<p>The phrase “gild the lily” implies <a href="https://grammarist.com/usage/gild-the-lily/">unnecessary ornamentation</a>, the idea being that adorning a lily with superficial decoration only serves to obscure its natural beauty. Well, I’m here to tell you that a little touch of what might seem like <em>unnecessary</em> ornamentation in design is exactly what you need.</p> <p>When your design is solid, and you’ve nailed the fundamentals, adding <em>one</em> layer of decoration can help communicate <strong>a level of care</strong> and <strong>attention</strong>.</p> First, You Need A Lily <p>Let’s break down the “gild the lily” metaphor. First, you need a lily. Lilies are naturally beautiful, and each is unique. They don’t need further decoration. To play in this metaphor, let’s assume your design is <em>already great</em>. If not, you don’t have a lily. Get back to work on the fundamentals and check back in later (or keep reading anyhow).</p> <p>Now that you’ve got a lily, let’s talk gilding. To “gild” is to cover it with a thin layer of gold. We’re not talking about the inner beauty baked into the very soul of your product (that’s the <em>lily</em> part of the metaphor). A touch of metaphorical gold foil on the surface can send a message of delight with <strong>a hint of decadence</strong>.</p> <p>This gilding might come in the form of a subtle, animated transition or through a hint of colour and added depth in a drop shadow. Before we get into specifics, let’s make sure our metaphor doesn’t carry us too far.</p> Gild Sparingly <blockquote>If we go too far with our gilding, we can communicate indulgence and excess rather than a hint of decadence.</blockquote> <p>An over-the-top design can be particularly irritating, depending on the state of mind of the person you’re designing for. For example, a flashy animation bragging about your new AI chat feature may not sit so well with a frustrated customer who can’t get their password reset to use it in the first place.</p> Wink At The Audience (Once) <p>Not every great product design can be so obviously beautiful as a lily. Even if you have a great design, it may not be noticeable to those enjoying the benefits of that design. Our designs shouldn’t always be noticeable, but sometimes it’s <em>fun</em> to notice and appreciate a great design.</p> <p>If you’re Apple, you don’t need to worry about your design going unnoticed. Nobody thinks the background color of the Apple website is white (<strong><code>#FFFFFF</code></strong>) because they forgot to specify one in their stylesheet (though I’m old enough to remember a time when the default background of the web was a battleship gray, <strong><code>#CCCCCC</code></strong>). It’s so clear from the general level of refinement and production quality on the Apple site that the white background is a deliberate <em>choice</em>.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/gild-just-one-lily/1-apple-wwebsite.png"></p> <p>You and I are not Apple. Your client is (probably) not Apple. You don’t have an army of world-class product photographers and motion designers working in a glass spaceship in Cupertino. You’re on a small team pushing up against budget and schedule constraints. Even with these limitations, you’re managing to make great products.</p> <p>The great design behind your products might be so well done that it is invisible. The door handle is so well-shaped that you don’t notice how well-shaped it is. That button is so well-placed that no one thinks about where it is positioned.</p> <blockquote>When you’re nailing the fundamentals, it’s ok to wink at the audience once in a while. Not only is it ok, but it can even augment your design.</blockquote> <p>By calling just a touch of attention to the thoughtfulness of your design, you may make it even more delightful to experience. Take it one inch too far, though, and you’re distracting from the experience and begging for applause. Walk this line carefully.</p> Digital Lilies <p>A metaphor — even one with gold and lilies — only takes us so far. Let’s consider some concrete examples of gilding a digital product. When it comes to the web, a few touches of polish to reach for can include the following:</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/gild-just-one-lily/2-supabase-site.png"></p> <p><strong>Not-quite black and not-quite white</strong>: Instead of solid black (<strong><code>#000000</code></strong>) and solid white (<strong><code>#FFFFFF</code></strong>) colors on the web, <a href="https://uxmovement.com/content/why-you-should-never-use-pure-black-for-text-or-backgrounds/">find subtle variations</a>. They may look black/white on a first glance, but there’s a subtle implication of care and customization. An off-white background also allows you to have pure white elements, like form inputs, that stand out nicely against the backdrop. Be careful to <a href="https://www.a11yproject.com/checklist/#color-contrast">preserve enough contrast to ensure accessible text</a>.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/gild-just-one-lily/3-comeau-example.png"></p> <p><strong>Layered and color-hinted shadows</strong>: <a href="https://www.joshwcomeau.com/css/designing-shadows/">Josh Comeau writes about bringing color into shadows</a>, including a <a href="https://www.joshwcomeau.com/css/introducing-shadow-palette-generator/">tool to help generate shadows</a> that just feel better.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/gild-just-one-lily/4-chart-utopia-blog.png"></p> <p><strong>Comfortable lettering</strong>: Find a comfortable line height and letter spacing for the font family you’re using. A responsive type system like <a href="https://utopia.fyi/">Utopia</a> can help define spacing that looks and feels comfortable across a variety of device sizes.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/gild-just-one-lily/5-one-react-framework-site.png"></p> <p><strong>A touch of color</strong>: When you don’t want your brand colors to overwhelm your design or you would like a complementary color to accent an otherwise monotone site, consider adding a single, simple stripe of solid color along the top of the viewport. Even something a few pixels tall can add a nice splash of color without complicating the rest of the design. The <a href="https://onestack.dev/">site for the One React web framework</a> does this nicely and goes further with a uniquely shaped yellow accent at the top of the site. It’s even more subtle if you’re seeing their dark-mode design, but it’s still there.</p> <p><img src="https://files.smashing.media/articles/gild-just-one-lily/6-a-list-apart-site.png"></p> <p><strong>Illustration and photography</strong>: It’s easier than ever to find whimsical and fun illustrations for your site, but no stock image can replace a relevant illustration or photo so apt that it <em>must</em> have been crafted just for this case. <a href="https://alistapart.com/article/the-wax-and-the-wane-of-the-web/"><em>A List Apart</em></a> has commissioned a unique illustration in a consistent style for each of their articles for <em>decades</em>. You don’t have to be a gifted illustrator. There may be charm in your amateur scribbles. If not, <a href="https://hicks.design/">hire a great artist</a>.</p> Beware, Cheap Gilding <p>Symbols of decadence are valued because they are precious in some way. This is why we talk about gilding with gold and not brass. This is also why a business card with rounded corners may feel more premium than a simple rectangle. It feels more expensive because it is.</p> <p>Printing has gotten pretty cheap, though, even with premium touches. Printing flourishes like rounded corners or a smooth finish don’t convey the same value and care as they did before they became quick up-sell options from your local (or budget online) print shop.</p> <p>A well-worded and thoughtful cover letter used to be a great way to stand out from a pile of similar resumes. Now, it takes a whole different approach to stand out from a wall of AI-LLM-generated cover letters that say everything an employer might want to hear.</p> <p>On the web, a landing page where new page sections slide and fade in with animation is used to imply that someone spent extra time on the implementation. Now, a page with too much motion feels more like a million other templates enabled by site-building tools like Wix, Squarespace, and Webflow.</p> <p>Custom fonts have also become so easy and ubiquitous on the web that sticking to system default fonts can be as strong a statement as a stylish typeface.</p> Does Anyone Care? <p>Is everyone going to notice that the drop shadows on your website have a hint of color? No. Is <em>anyone</em> going to notice? Maybe not. If you get the details right, though, people will <em>feel</em> it. These levels of polish are <strong>cumulative</strong>, contributing one percent here and there to the overall experience. They may not notice the hue of your drop shadow, but they may <strong>impart some trust</strong> from a sense of the care that went into the design.</p> <p>Most people aren’t web developers or designers. They don’t know the implementation details of CSS animations and box-shadows. Similarly, I’m not a car expert — far from it. I value reliability and affordability more than performance and luxury in a car. Even so, when I close the door on a high-quality vehicle, I can <em>feel</em> the difference.</p> <p>On that next project, allow yourself to gild just one lily.</p>