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Illustrators have found a nurturing community on the web where they can share awesome work. Artists drawing for children’s books were almost always done by hand. But with the popularity of Adobe software and the many tablet devices it’s easier than ever to move your work digital!

In this design showcase I’ve put together 28 heartwarming illustrations from Dribbble artists. These are all featured from many different children’s books and relate to individual projects. If you enjoy any parts of our collection of have example illustrations of your own please let us know in the post discussion area.

Book Leaf Cover

A Sandman Story

Wildlife

Pop-up Book

Illustration for Book Cover

Snowday Recon

Picky Alligator

Phil Lately

Sea Turtle

Behind the Moon Concept Art

Snuglug

Land of Nod

Hansel and Gretel

Super Hero Kids

Captain Hook

Rocket to Planet Charlie

Pirate Stripes

Run Boy Run

Halfway Herbert

Spot Dog

Norb’s Shakes and Sweets

Cat Meets a Baby Seagull

You Can’t Eat That

Best Friends

Picture Book City Detail

Kitchen Detail

Ghouls

Bear with Coffee and Croissant

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Webmasters are often wise to consider running a small e-mail newsletter. There are tons of free systems such as MailChimp which automatically collect subscribers and send out messages for you. But one aspect which does require some work is the design and layout.

Most e-mail messages are written in basic HTML code. Campaign Monitor is a great website which collects tips and tricks for building outstanding newsletters. Below I have collected 28 totally fresh e-mail designs for some great inspiration. If you know of similar layouts please let us know in the discussion area below.

VTalk

Look Hear

District Dining

The Beast Magazine

Art of Nature

Limes Farm

Eleven Media

Vigor

Booki.sh

Webfit

Schaffer’s

MarketSpace

Tonic Connective

Creative Space

Flexibits

Code my Concept

Big Cartel

Juggler

WooJobs

curious

New Forest Cookery School

Sprowt

Catch Digital

Appstrakt

Icon.PR

The Wedding Company

Chris Assaad

Sheen Media

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Folks who own and run their own restaurant are generally not concerned with the backing technology. But in this era it’s almost foolish to not have a website online. But where do you start? This handy gallery of 24 fast food and Restaurant-style websites should give you some great inspiration ahead. If you have your own restaurant website please let us know in the discussion area below! We would love to check out other sources for inspiration and share them with the many designers worldwide.

Marie Catribs

Chez Gerard

Arby’s

Cannolificio Mongibello

Keebler

Jake’s Road House

PF Changs

Hunanon

Backyard Burgers

Woki Tokee

Easy Bistro

Keith Homemade Cakes

The Villager

Cracker Barrel

Krispy Kreme

C & C Coffee

Glenilen Farm

Bugaboo Creek

Five Guys

LongHorn Steakhouse

CJs Fresh Cookies

SugarBakers Cakes

Cinnabon

Auntie Annes Pretzels

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Comments are an important part to any website community. Within the comments section visitors of your website may share their ideas, thoughts, and related links on topic with your content. It’s revolutionized the web 2.0 era!

Today we take comments as often commonplace wherever we go. Most blogs will include this feature by default. This also includes many of the popular open source projects such as WordPress, MovableType, Blogger, and others. And although many of these are semi-closed off the most popular systems allow for customizations.

This is where threaded comments have begun. Including threads within the conversations allows for branching topics and more direct responses. Below I’ve gathered a hefty collection of threaded comment designs for your viewing pleasure. Feel free to leave your own comments as well if anything strikes your eye!

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Australian design and illustrator Luke Feldman is the subject of today’s designer showcase. You may be familiar with Luke’s work, Skaffs. Here you will get a chance to learn a little bit more about Luke, and you can certainly be inspired by his work.

Hometown:
Melbourne, Australia

Design experience:
I am a multimedia designer who creates for a multitude of platforms. I have worked in the gaming, education, social networking and entertainment industry. My work ranges from graphic design, illustration, computer animation, Flash interactives, mobile media, iphone development, website design and functionality, character design, installations and advertising.

Educational background:
I studied Visual Arts and Multimedia in Australia.

Current availability for client work:
Yes, I am available. I can be contacted through my online portfolio at www.lukefeldman.com or www.skaffs.com.

Areas of specialization or focus:
I provide overall creative direction through the development of concepts, product strategy and planning, functionality, interactive content development, user interface and accessibility design to create innovative and engaging web, digital, entertainment, mobile and broadcast content.

What is your best advice for other designers who are looking to improve their skills?
Develop your own style. Practice adapting your style to various formats. Keep up to date with the latest trends. And get involved in your local design community.

From Luke’s Portfolio:

If you want to see more of Luke’s work or to get in touch with him, please visit LukeFeldman.com or Skaffs.com.

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Many of you are probably familiar with Alex Beltechi’s work on blogs like PSDTUTS and GoMediaZine. Alex has some incredible work that I am happy to feature here. You can get to know a little bit about him, get some inspiration from his work, and find some places where you can connect with him.

Hometown:
Oradea, Romania

Design experience:
I’ve always been an artsy person, but didn’t think I’d make a career out of it someday. I started working in print for my church, at about age 15. I remember working in “Microsoft Picture It!” for a long time, and fliers, brochures, pamphlets, banners were the norm. Overseeing the entire process from initial sketches to the printed final product has taught me a whole lot, and is a sort of foundation for everything I create today.

During high-school I also started to work as a freelancer, but it was more like a pocket money gig, than an actual job. Eventually I started taking design seriously, and that’s when I decided to get a major in it someday.

Educational background:
I planned to do one year of Bible College, and then obtain a diploma in Graphic Design. The plan is still in action, as I’m now a first year Graphic Design student.

Currently available for client work:
I’ve actually been taking more freelance projects lately, and do intend to make it a full time “job”, but I’m taking time off from work this whole summer. I’ll be ready to take on new projects this fall.

Areas of specialization or focus:
Graphic Design and Illustration. That could mean a thousand different things, so I’ll be narrowing down my options during school. I’d like to create illustrations in advertising some day.

What is your best advice for other designers who are looking to
improve their skills?
Don’t be a brag. There’s a lot you can learn from other people, and pride will only slow you down. Admit your mistakes, take good advice in consideration, and you’ll not only be able to grow faster, but create a positive impression on everyone around you. I find it hard to work with and learn from overly proud people.

From Alex’s Portfolio:

Connect with Alex:

Behance – behance.net/AlexBeltechi
Flickr – flickr.com/photos/alexbeltechi/
Twitter – @AlexBeltechi (just started with Twitter)

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This week’s designer showcase features Mike Chan. A while ago I came across Mike’s portfolio on Behance and was really interested in his work. In this post you’ll get to know a little bit about Mike, you’ll see some samples from his portfolio, and you’ll find links where you can connect with him.

Hometown:
Hong Kong, China

Design experience:
My interest in design stemmed from web design when I was 13-year-old. Since then, I couldn’t stop exploring and acquiring knowledge in this area.

When I was turning to 15-year-old, I had my very first piece of design – a web design. My talent has been discovered by my teacher at school, who then encouraged me to develop the website for my school at that time.

Two years later, I started picking up photography with digital camera. But then, I gradually realized the fun of taking pictures with a film camera. The depth and layering of using film made me in love with it.

Merging the web design and photography with my latest area of interest – graphic design, I am wrapped up in design work with focus on
environment, nature, natural faces with the incorporation of light sources and effects.

Educational background:

Unexpectedly, I wasn’t graduated from any design school. Instead, I had a Degree of Electrical and Electronic Engineering from a local university, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The enthusiasm in design has been my personal interest for years, as I have mentioned. And, my skills and knowledge in this area are acquired as a result of my passion and non-stop exploring.

Currently availability for client work:

I’m now working with a design company as a multimedia designer. I would also accept freelance, from time to time, for some international famous brands, PR companies for different kinds of design works. To name a few, Ad layout and poster design, direct mailing design, invitation and printed collaterals design, photographing, event snapping…etc

Areas of specialization or focus:

As the aforementioned, I’m fond of photography and graphic design. In the future, I would like to further broaden  and try to woven the
skills from these two area. But, generally, my speciality in graphic design is often associated with colours, especially spectral colours. I’m keen on it as I think colours are derived from spectrum of lights. Also, the scattering as well as the interaction of lights and colours inspired me to come up with designs that are positive and optimistic.

On the other hand, my style on photography follows my optimistic character, in which I like taking pictures focused on human faces, especially kids and elderly. Their faces express the rawest but the truest emotions from their hearts. I derive a lot of satisfactions and hopes from it.

What is your best advice for other designers who are looking to
improve their skills?

There are numerous fabulous design works in different specialized area. I believe a designer should try to figure out which area he/she is good at. Once you figure out your strengths and area of interest, you naturally want to develop your skills into that specific area.

Moreover, we should always keep an eye on appreciating others’ works. Absorbing creative ideas and concepts from the existing ones might
help a lot on stimulating yours.

Work from Mike’s Portfolio:

Connect with Mike:

behance.net/Mike7

mike7.net

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Today’s designer showcase features Brazilian designer Leandro Demetrius. Leandro’s Flirck profile is full of inspirational work, especially if you like lighting effects. Please take a few minutes to get to know more about Leandro and check out his work.

Hometown:
I was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil!

Design style:
I do not usually hold much to the labels or styles, because it is always good to surprise customers and people who admire my work. I particularly aim for it in both my personal projects as professionals, as I do not like to be remembered for a single style. I always renew and spread new ideas that at times I like more than the former.

Educational background:
I’ve been drawing since I was 4 years old, but it was only in 2003 that I specialized in design. I studied Graphic Design and could have a greater range of options to apply my skills. I’m currently studying Digital Design not because I like it, but it’s always good to monitor technological advances and new methods that can help to add something in to my chart.

Availability for client work:
I’m available but because they never worked in any fixed business. I prefer to go after the companies that might be interested by my work, it creates a certain confidence and helps to raise awareness of my name as a professional, not as an employee. Freedom of creation is worth a lot to me, I hate having to receive orders and make more work at once, without researching and creating something that is really good.

Areas of specialization or focus:
I love to see my work reflected in some media that the public can touch and feel. I prefer print design or visual arts. I am not a very big fan of digital art. Shooting as an example the artists precursor’s arts, who left their legacy and today we can access. Artists in the digital age at most will leave to printed file, and that is something that I do not like very much.

What is your best advice for other designers who are looking to improve their skills?
Take risks, try new techniques, styles and expose to the world what you do. Nobody will know if you are creative if you do not show it. Never be afraid to go after jobs with large companies, usually because they admire courage and attitude more than a project well done. It is always good to go to qualify, extend the range of technical and support artists who are deploying in the area, follow the path that they opened. I think it is important to maintain humility, always maintaining contact with other professionals, because nobody is on top forever, and it is always good to have friends that can help you in time of difficulty.

From Leandro’s Portfolio:

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Today we present the fourth addition of the Designer Showcase series, and this time Franz Jeitz of Fudgegraphics is featured. At Fudgegraphics Franz publishes a lot of great content, including freebies like Photoshop brushes (see his recent set of ink scribble brushes). As you will see below, Franz has some excellent wallpaper and poster designs in his portfolio, so hopefully it will be a source of inspiration for you.

Getting to Know Franz:

Hometown:
I was born and raised in Luxembourg City, capital of Luxembourg in the heart of Europe. I’ve been studying for 4 years in London and feel more attached to it creatively.

Design experience:
I don’t have any to be honest. One might say that I’m a late bloomer when it comes to design since I only seriously started about a year ago. I used to play in a band in Luxembourg and was in charge of all things design from CD package to website design. This is how I discovered my passion for it and I learned myself Photoshop and illustrator by following online tutorials and through books. From there on it was an organic process or acquiring new skills and constantly trying to improve. About a year ago I started taking on projects, mainly for friends.

Educational background:
As mentioned I do not have any design educational background. Although I enjoyed art class in college I went for the Science and Mathematics route. Currently I am doing my Master in Physics, but I intend to work in the design industry after that.

Availability for client work:
At the moment I am busy working for uni, but I’ll finish mid May which is when I’m available for freelance work. I do however accept work already since I have a long Easter break and will only be unavailable for 3 weeks or so during exam period.

Areas of specialization or focus:
While I’ve done mainly webdesign lately I’d love to do more print jobs. I’m very interested in all designs related to music such as CD covers, merchandise and posters. Luckily I managed to set foot in the London Folk Scene and will try to further establish myself there.

What is your best advice for other designers who are looking to improve their skills?
I think this has been said over and over again, but it’s still valid. Keep trying! There are so many tutorials online and published in design magazine which will help you to improve your skills. For beginners it is always a good starting point to emulate the art of your favourite designers. A technique I often use and which I recommend to intermediate/advanced designers is to read tutorials once and try to reproduce the effects after a day or two. Embrace your errors. Many designs originate in “lucky mistakes”.

Franz’s Work:

You can also see Franz’s work at Fudgegraphics.

Connect with Franz:

Twitter: twitter.com/fudgegraphics

Behance Network: behance.net/fudgegraphics

Facebook: facebook.com/pages/fudgegraphics/26031721278

Last.fm: last.fm/user/holyfrancis

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This week’s designer showcase features Emily Kemper of ekgraphics.co.uk. Emily’s portfolio is filled with plenty of inspirational work, so take a moment to get to know a little bit about her and check out her work.

Emily Kemper

Hometown:
Grove, Oxfordshire, UK

Design experience:
I have been designing for friends and family for around 3 years , but of course I have been designing for a lot longer than that, if you include all of my studies.  I decided to set up my own freelance  business, ekgraphics, last year . which is doing very well, having had some great clients like O2 academy Oxford, and Funky House brands Twilo, Pacha and Promised. And I am in the process of booking in a CD Album artwork with a top international DJ in the Hard Dance scene.

Educational background:
I always loved art and studied it at GSCE and for A level and then did I did an Art foundation course. This led me on to studying a Graphic Design degree at uni.

Current work status:
I am available for booking in client work.

Areas of specialization:
I specialise in designing for print, and within that I have an emphasis on poster and flyer design.

What is your best advice for other designers who are looking to improve their skills?
Practice, practice, practice, experiment …….read tutorials there are some great tuts out there on the web and also great magazines.  Check out other designer’s portfolios, be inspired, but most of all enjoy it.

From Emily’s Portfolio:

Connect with Emily:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/ekgraphics/17797440871
Portfolio: www.ekgraphics.co.uk

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