Observations on craft, code, and the details that matter.
Writing about the decisions behind the work — typography, systems, performance, and the quiet discipline of building things well.
Case Study Layouts That Convert in 2026: A Studio Template You Can Reuse
Most portfolio case studies bury the work under walls of process. Here is the layout structure that actually moves visitors toward enquiry.
Design System Governance for Small Teams: The Minimum Structure That Prevents Drift
Small studios do not need design ops. They need three habits that prevent their system from drifting into inconsistency.
Design Tokens for Small Studios: What to Tokenise (And What to Leave Alone)
Most token systems are over-engineered for studio-scale work. Here is the minimum viable set and why adding more usually makes things worse.
Motion with Restraint, Revisited: The 2026 Motion Budget for Fast Sites
Two years on from our original motion philosophy piece. Here is the updated budget: what changed, what stayed the same, and why restraint still wins.
Dark Mode for Brand-led Sites: When It Helps, When It Hurts, How to Ship It Cleanly
Dark mode is expected by visitors but poorly implemented on most brand sites. Here is when to build it, when to skip it, and how to do it properly.
Experimental Navigation Without Accessibility Debt: A 2026 Reality Check
Every studio wants distinctive navigation. Most experimental nav patterns break for keyboard and screen reader users. Here is how to push the design without creating debt.
Reduced Motion, Not Reduced Quality: prefers-reduced-motion Patterns That Still Feel Premium
Respecting motion preferences does not mean gutting the experience. Here are patterns that feel considered in both states.
WCAG 2.2 for Brand Sites: The 2026 Fix List (Focus, Targets, Dragging, Authentication)
WCAG 2.2 added new criteria that catch brand sites off guard. Here is the fix list for the four that matter most: focus appearance, target size, dragging, and authentication.
Type Systems for the Modern Web: How to Build a Scale That Survives Redesigns
Most type systems break the first time the content changes. Here is how to build a scale that holds up through redesigns, new pages, and real content.
Web Fonts in 2026: Variable Fonts Without CLS (Yes, It's Possible)
Variable fonts save HTTP requests and file size. But they still cause layout shifts if loaded carelessly. Here is the 2026 approach that eliminates the tradeoff.
SVG Logo Delivery in 2026: Inline vs Sprite vs Component, and What Breaks in the Wild
There are three common ways to deliver SVG logos on the web. Each has real tradeoffs in 2026, and the 'correct' choice depends on context more than opinion.
Next.js Images for Portfolios: Visual Stability Without Killing Art Direction
Next.js image handling is built for generic web apps. Portfolio sites need different tradeoffs. Here is how to configure it without losing visual control.
Image Weight on Portfolio Sites: The 2026 Compression Workflow That Holds Up
Compression is not a one-off task. Here is the 2026 workflow that keeps portfolio images sharp, small, and maintainable across projects.
AVIF vs WebP vs JPG in 2026: A Decision Tree for Portfolio Photography
AVIF, WebP, and JPEG each have a place in 2026. Here is the decision tree for portfolio photography, with real compression numbers and implementation patterns.
The 2026 Portfolio Page-Weight Benchmark: What Studio Sites Weigh
Studio portfolio sites tend to be heavy. The median home page weighs over 3MB. The best come in under 800KB. Here is what the fast ones do differently.
Field Data vs Lab Data: The 2026 Studio Guide to Reading Performance Like a Grown-Up
Lab data tells you what you changed. Field data tells you whether it mattered. Here is how to use both without fooling yourself.
CLS on Minimal Sites: The Quiet Layout Shifts Most Studios Miss
Minimal sites look stable. Under the surface, font swaps, image loads, and late-injected elements cause layout shifts that CLS catches and users feel.
LCP for Brand Sites: The 2026 Hero Image and Type Loading Checklist
LCP on brand sites is almost always a hero image or a heading rendered in a web font. This checklist covers both, with specific thresholds and fixes for 2026.
INP in 2026: Why Your Site Feels Janky Even When It Looks Fast
INP replaced FID for good reason. Here is how to find and fix the interactions that make portfolio sites feel sluggish, even when the initial load is fast.
Core Web Vitals for Portfolio Sites in 2026: A Pass-Fail Playbook for LCP, INP, and CLS
Most portfolio sites fail at least one Core Web Vital. Here is the 2026 playbook for passing all three without gutting your design.
Why Minimal Sites Still Need Structure
Stripping a site back to its essentials exposes every structural decision. Minimal design demands more architectural thinking, not less.
Accessibility for Brand Sites
Brand sites often treat accessibility as an afterthought. Building it into the design process from the start produces better experiences for everyone.
SVG Logos and Asset Pipelines
Managing SVG logos across a production pipeline requires more discipline than most teams expect. The format is powerful but demands consistent handling to avoid asset sprawl.
Image Weight on Portfolio Sites
Portfolio sites depend on imagery for impact, but unchecked image weight destroys the performance that makes that impact possible. Balancing the two is a core design skill.
Type Systems for the Modern Web
Typography on the web requires a systematic approach that balances aesthetic intention with technical constraints. Here is how to build type systems that scale.
Motion with Restraint
The best web animations are the ones users barely notice. Motion should guide attention, confirm actions, and smooth transitions—not perform for its own sake.
Design Systems for Small Studios
Design systems are not just for enterprise teams. Small studios benefit from systematic design thinking, but the system needs to fit the team's scale and workflow.
Case Study Layouts That Convert
The layout of a case study page determines whether visitors read deeply or bounce quickly. Structure, rhythm, and hierarchy make the difference.
End of entries
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