In “Tinker, Tailor, Content Strategist,” which runs concurrently in this issue, I asked you about content strategy master skills, which hardly seems fair if I don’t share one of my own favorites. via Pocket

The right kind of sound can relax your mind, hone your focus, drown out distractions, or get you pumped to kill your to-do list. We've assembled some research and free resources to help you create your own best workspace soundtrack. via Pocket

Finals, due dates, exams, and deadlines all have one thing in common: they convince us that skipping sleep is a good idea. While that's certainly not true, sometimes pulling an all-nighter is your only option to get things done. If you have to go that route, you may as well do it right. via Pocket

“Oh hai Smashing Magazine!” That’s one of the dozen ways that Flickr welcomes its users upon signing in every time. It’s an easily overlooked detail, one that the service would work without flawlessly. via Pocket
Subjects: Emotional design

Standing desks may be all the rage, but they certainly have their downsides—and they aren't for everyone. Writer Mikael Cho explains why he ditched his standing desk, and how he combats the unhealthy side effects of sitting all day. This post originally appeared on the Crew Blog. via Pocket

The CSS3 Flexible Box, or flexbox, is a layout mode providing for the arrangement of elements on a page such that the elements behave predictably when the page layout must accommodate different screen sizes and different display devices. via Pocket

User-centered design has served the digital community well. So well, in fact, that I’m worried its dominance may actually be limiting our field. The terms “user experience design” (UX) and “user-centered design” (UCD) are often used interchangeably. But there’s an important distinction. via Pocket

via Pocket

Grids do not exist in a vacuum. They exist in relation to the content. We never start with a grid. We start with an idea which is then translated into a form, a structure.
Contains a list of common problems of responsive layouts.

A Good User Interface has high conversion rates and is easy to use. In other words, it's nice to both the business side as well as the people using it. Here is a running idea list, which we try on projects. Try A One Column Layout instead of multicolumns. via Pocket

via Pocket

via Pocket

Success in interaction design is largely a matter of following established patterns, so people can apply what they already know to new contexts. Using known and well-established interactive controls goes a long way in designing for easy interaction. via Pocket