Smashing Magazine

CSS Intelligence: Speculating On The Future Of A Smarter Language

hello@smashingmagazine.com (Gabriel Shoyombo) |
CSS has evolved from a purely presentational language into one with growing logical powers — thanks to features like container queries, relational pseudo-classes, and the `if()` function. Is it still just for styling, or is it becoming something more? Gabriel Shoyombo explores how smart CSS has beco... read more

Turning User Research Into Real Organizational Change

hello@smashingmagazine.com (Paul Boag) |
Bridging the gap between user research insights and actual organizational action — with a clear roadmap for impact.... read more

Never Stop Exploring (July 2025 Wallpapers Edition)

hello@smashingmagazine.com (Cosima Mielke) |
July is just around the corner, and that means it’s time for a new collection of desktop wallpapers. Created with love by artists and designers from across the globe, they are bound to bring some good vibes to your screen. Enjoy!... read more

Can Good UX Protect Older Users From Digital Scams?

hello@smashingmagazine.com (Carrie Webster) |
As online scams become more sophisticated, Carrie Webster explores whether good UX can serve as a frontline defense, particularly for non-tech-savvy older users navigating today’s digital world.... read more

Decoding The SVG <code>path</code> Element: Curve And Arc Commands

hello@smashingmagazine.com (Myriam Frisano) |
On her quest to teach you how to code vectors by hand, Myriam Frisano’s second installment of a `path` deep dive explores the most complex aspects of SVG’s most powerful element. She’ll help you understand the underlying rules and function of how curves and arcs are constructed. By the end of it, yo... read more

Meet Accessible UX Research, A Brand-New Smashing Book

hello@smashingmagazine.com (Vitaly Friedman) |
Meet “Accessible UX Research,” our upcoming book to make your UX research inclusive. Learn how to recruit, plan, and design with disabled participants in mind. Print shipping in August 2025. eBook available for download later this summer. Pre-order the book. ... read more

CSS Cascade Layers Vs. BEM Vs. Utility Classes: Specificity Control

hello@smashingmagazine.com (Victor Ayomipo) |
CSS can be unpredictable — and specificity is often the culprit. Victor Ayomipo breaks down how and why your styles might not behave as expected, and why understanding specificity is better than relying on `!important`.... read more

What I Wish Someone Told Me When I Was Getting Into ARIA

hello@smashingmagazine.com (Eric Bailey) |
[Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA)](https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/aria/) is an inevitability when working on web accessibility. That said, it’s everyone’s first time learning about ARIA at some point.... read more

Creating The “Moving Highlight” Navigation Bar With JavaScript And CSS

hello@smashingmagazine.com (Blake Lundquist) |
In this tutorial, Blake Lundquist walks us through two methods of creating the “moving-highlight” navigation pattern using only plain JavaScript and CSS. The first technique uses the `getBoundingClientRect` method to explicitly animate the border between navigation bar items when they are clicked. T... read more

Decoding The SVG <code>path</code> Element: Line Commands

hello@smashingmagazine.com (Myriam Frisano) |
SVG is easy — until you meet `path`. However, it’s not as confusing as it initially looks. In this first installment of a pair of articles, Myriam Frisano aims to teach you the basics of `` and its sometimes mystifying commands. With simple examples and visualizations, she’ll help you understand the... read more