Let's learn SvelteKit by building a static Markdown blog from scratch
Learn the fundamentals of SvelteKit by building a statically generated blog from scratch, with Markdown support, Sass, an API, and an RSS feed. Read more…
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Adding blog comments to your static site with utterances
The web world is full of tradeoffs. Going from a CMS to a static site keeps things simple—but that simplicity comes with costs. Luckily, giving up comments on your blog doesn't have to be one of them. Read more…
Converting from Gridsome to SvelteKit
I've been a fan of Svelte for years, but never had the opportunity to use it on a serious project before. So when I found myself looking for a new platform for this site as SvelteKit entered open beta, it seemed like perfect timing. Read more…
Introducing Svelte, and Comparing Svelte with React and Vue
Svelte is a new style of framework for building sites and apps. Let's dive into what makes it different, why it's so enjoyable, and how it's able to ship such tiny, fast apps. Read more…
Goodbye, WordPress
WordPress was potentially the most impactful and empowering technology I've yet encountered. It transformed my career path and enabled me to do anything I wanted at every point in my journey. So why leave it now? Read more…
Announcing Quina (My First App)!
The story of building Quina, a word game Progressive Web App built with Nuxt, and launched on the Google Play Store. Read more…
How to Create Custom Editor Blocks with Block Lab
Block Lab is a WordPress plugin that simplifies the process of creating custom blocks to use in the block editor, AKA Gutenberg, the new content editor in WordPress 5.0. This post explains how to use it, even if you only know basic HTML. Read more…
A New Headless Site with Gridsome
A lengthy write-up diving into what headless means, its advantages and disadvantages, some of the techniques and gotchas involved, and, finally, the new design of this site specifically. Read more…
This isn't the Time, But it's the Perfect Time; Goodbye, Instagram
…Lately, I’ve been wondering whether I can actually continue supporting Instagram and the company behind it, however passively or at whatever seemingly insignificant scale. And while I was zeroing in on this answer anyway, the events of the last couple of weeks have clearly cemented in my mind that the answer—for me, at least—is an unequivocal “no.” Read more…
How to Connect Local with CodeKit
Enjoy all the convenience of easy local WordPress development with Local, plus build tools with CodeKit, without any of the tricky command line setup. Read more…
How to Check Uniqueness in an Array of Objects in JavaScript
Working with arrays of objects in JavaScript can be difficult. This post covers how to ensure all object keys (IDs) are unique, and how to find non-unique values. Read more…
Adding Gutenberg Full- and Wide-Width Image Support to Your WordPress Theme
Gutenberg brings with it the ability to set image blocks as full-width or wide-width. This article talks about how to enable support for that feature in your theme, and one way to write the CSS that makes it work. Read more…
Let's Learn CSS Variables!
CSS variables (otherwise known as CSS custom properties) give previously impossible superpowers to CSS developers. This post covers what they are, how they work, and a couple of nifty ways you can implement them on your own website. Read more…
New Site, New Theme for 2018
Building a WordPress theme (and a new brand) from scratch. Read more…
Five Ways to Become a Better Designer (That Aren't Design)
There’s vast world of design learning and opportunity right in front of us constantly. All we need to do is take the time to notice it and learn from it. Read more…
My Essential Tools for WordPress Development
Some of these apps, resources and tools aren’t directly WordPress-related, or even necessarily development-related; some have to do with productivity or just make life a little easier. That’s by design. Part of being a developer is learning to work and use your tools as efficiently and with as little wasted time and mental energy as possible. Read more…
The Five Things I Wish Somebody Had Told Me as a Design Student
Your worst instructor as a design student will lay out clear goals and expectations which will not change; this is not a given with clients. Read more…
WordPress Child Theme Explanation and Walkthrough
When you’re just starting out with WordPress, it’s easy to think that you can just open up the style.css file included with your theme and begin making alterations. And that will work—at least for a while—but it won’t be a good idea… Read more…
Why Designers Shouldn't "Fix" Other Designers' Logos
No matter how simple the end product, design is hard work. To come up with something that looks good, something people like, is at best tangential to the main point. The question is: does it succeed at meeting the project goals? And you don’t know how to answer that question. Read more…
8 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Student Design Portfolio
Consider this post a guide on how to avoid the most common mistakes young designers make when assembling their portfolios. Read more…
Profit is Not a Value
Any executive or business owner will say their company values integrity, and virtually every company claims that they reward and value their employees exhibiting their brand values. But is that really accurate? Read more…
Understanding the Difference Between Image and Vector File Types
If you’re like me, you’ve probably spent some time wondering (and Googling) about the differences between various popular format types commonly used for graphic design applications. So I decided I’d create a resource that’s hopefully a handy reference on the matter of discerning file type supports and behavior. Read more…
Pantone, Color, and What I Wish I Had Known Sooner as a Designer
One of the most difficult things for me to learn in my transition from the classroom to a professional branding agency was how to properly handle color output. So I decided to write this post in the hope of saving you some from some of the pitfalls that I failed to avoid. Read more…
Social Media, Compulsion, and the 12 Things I Learned on My Break from Facebook
I’m beginning to believe that becoming more connected with everyone is making me less connected with anyone. Read more…