Inspect Element - Web Design & Development Blog

Add a Category and Page Specific Class to the Body Tag in WordPress

July 23rd, 2009 — 6 Comments

wordpress

WordPress is a powerful CMS, especially for blogging but what if you want to style something on a single page and not affect anything on other pages? There isn’t built-in way to do this so we need to use the platform that WordPress runs on by writing some custom PHP.

Wallpapers of the Week 7: Creative 3D Design

July 22nd, 2009 — 1 Comment

Three dimension design can be one of the most creative ways to express yourself whether trying to recreate a realistic scene to creating a more surreal setting. Here are some examples of great 3D work.

Creative_design_Summer_colour Summer

containment1920 Containment

Desktopography-1600x1200 Sumeco

indiansummer1920 Indian Summer

Business_concept_design_CGj @ Sea

Create a Button with Hover and Active States using CSS Sprites

July 21st, 2009 — 25 Comments

buttons

Too many designers neglect the click state (active: property in CSS) in web design, either because they’re unaware of it, underestimate the importance of it or are plain lazy. It’s a simple effect that improves usability by giving the user some feedback as to what they’ve clicked on but can also add depth to a design.

First, a look at the working button.

The Ultimate A-Z of the Best Design and Development Related Sites

July 20th, 2009 — 58 Comments

This list is being constantly updated so keep coming back to see the new additions. Also, please leave any suggestions in the comments. Thanks.

aToZ

For anyone in the web design and development industry, you should be checking most of these on a regular basis and you can’t go wrong subscribing to the RSS feeds of the following sites:

Links of the Week 6

July 17th, 2009 — No Comments

Look outside for inspiration, site map css, animate a curtain using jQuery, better password inputs and Pixel Perfect.

Looking outside to gain inspiration

The From the Couch guys encourage a very simple idea to go outside to gain inspiration. I know it works for me because some of my best ideas come from when I go out for a walk. Wether it’s to or from work, during your lunch break or even just at the weekend, go outside and be inspired.

SlickMap CSS

Site maps tend not to get much attention when it comes to design so this is a very simple way to make a drab site map look good and interesting.

Animate Curtains Opening with jQuery

A very creative use of jQuery simulating a theatre style curtain opening and closing. Certainly a tutorial that will make you smile.

Better Password Inputs, iPhone Style

Ever since Jakob Nielsen’s controversial comments about not masking web passwords, I immediately thought of the way the iPhone handled passwords and up pops Chris Coyier, right on cue!

Pixel Perfect

This is one for all you perfectionist. Pixel Perfect is a Firefox plugin (requires Firebug) that allows you to overlay a design over the top of a site development.

Communication Between Designers and Developers from a Developer's View

July 16th, 2009 — 17 Comments

A developer’s skill is with the code and functionality of a site and we are strange beasts who like rules and processes, and designers are the carefree creative types, who know no boundaries, and love to make things look nice. And, most times we don’t see eye to eye.

checklist

Wallpapers of the Week 6: Video Game Art

July 15th, 2009 — 1 Comment

Video games are a very visual experience and here are some great examples of fantastic fan art, in-game screenshots and promotional images all in wallpaper format.

portal Portal