The best of 2020

Considering how unpredictable this year has been, it’s amusing that several of our top articles of 2020 are predictions.

Our industry will never be the same, and that’s exciting. I won’t try to make any guesses about the future now, but I am optimistic. Some of the most beautiful movements in history came after a time of crisis. I can only hope this year inspires more creativity, more beauty, more ideas we've never seen before.

In the meantime, we will reflect on familiar ones: Skeuomorphism. Typefaces. UX design. Portfolio building. Of the 161 articles we published in 2020, these are the most-read:

1. The Kawaiization of product design

Claymation-style 3D hands imply our design tool is our friend. Circles and squiggles say our form-creation app is here to party. Muted colors and soft, rounded shapes signal safety. It is approachable. It is charming. It’s Kawaii.

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2. Skeuomorphism is making a comeback

Something is missing in these modern UIs. They're clean. They're streamlined. They're optimized for productivity and speed. But they’ve lost their soul. Our apps and interfaces have all started look the same and feel the same. Even the icons blend together on our screens. People feed off visual stimuli, and the visual world online has become less and less stimulating with each year. And so we’re gravitating toward something new.

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3. The best totally free webfonts and typefaces

Beautiful typefaces are usually an investment, but that doesn't mean you can't find affordable ones. Here we curated our top 12 picks, along with a few honorable mentions.

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4. Art deco will be the visual language of 2021

Every trend is an answer to the movement preceding it, and minimalism has just about had its run. We are emotional and sentimental beings; we survive on self-expression. We will forever return to what has colored society since humans first walked the earth: art.

We have yet to see how this plays out but can only hope it’s true for the coming year.

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5. The most underrated page on your portfolio

There’s a page I don’t see on portfolios as often as I’d like. When I do, it feels like a treat. I go through all the other pages on the site first. I scan the homepage, usually click straight to the About page, followed by a few case studies. Finally, dessert: The Playground page.

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6. How to write UX copy that makes your product a joy to use

Good UX copy is like a good speaker. It makes its users feel lighter, encouraged and capable. So to write UX copy that moves your users, similar principles apply.

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7. The Carbonmade onboarding UX explained

A great onboarding experience can increase your conversion rate, engagement and brand recognition while lowering the barrier of entry – meaning, how fast someone can start using your product the way it's mean to be used. It's one of the most crucial elements of your entire product experience.

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8. 5 gorgeous portfolios from creative directors

If you're a branding or identity designer, you typically have an obsession with detail. You are, naturally, an expert in typography. You've learned how to distill a story to its most powerful parts and present it in a compelling way.  So it's no wonder branding portfolios are some of the best out there.

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9. Senior portfolios vs. junior portfolios

Does your portfolio change depending on your seniority? Of course, we know the work will evolve. But does the way you present it change too? Should it? Here are our thoughts on the subject.

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10. How to write concisely

The three hallmarks of good UX copy: Clear, concise and useful. Here we will discuss how to write concisely. We will keep it short.

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Thank you to everyone who read DESK this year. Like most of you, I'd guess, we look forward to what 2021 brings.