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Korean Air Takes Off with a Fresh New Look

March 25th, 2025 No comments

Korean Air’s rebranding features a modernized Taegeuk symbol in a deeper blue, paired with a new typeface that’s cleaner and more streamlined. The updated logo and symbol, combined with a metallic look on the aircraft livery, create a sleek, contemporary visual identity that emphasizes the airline’s innovative and forward-thinking approach.

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Support Logical Shorthands in CSS

March 24th, 2025 No comments

There’s a bit of a blind spot when working with CSS logical properties concerning shorthands. Miriam explains:

Logical properties are a great way to optimize our sites in advance, without any real effort.

But what if we want to set multiple properties at once? This is where shorthands like margin and padding become useful. But they are currently limited to setting physical dimension. Logical properties are great, but they still feel like a second-class feature of the language.

There are a few 2-value shorthands that have been implemented, like margin-block for setting both the -block-start and -block-endmargins. I find those extremely useful and concise. But the existing 4-value shorthands feel stuck in the past. It’s surprising that a size shorthand can’t set the inline-size, and the inset shorthand doesn’t include inset-block-start. Is there any way to update those shorthand properties so that they can be used to set logical dimensions?

She ends with the money question, whether we can do anything about it. We’re currently in a position of having to choose between supporting flow-relative terms like block-start and inline-start with longhand properties and the ergonomic benefits of writing shorthand properties that are evaluated as physical terms like top, bottom, left, and right. Those of us writing CSS for a while likely have the muscle memory to adapt accordingly, but it’s otherwise a decision that has real consequences, particularly for multi-lingual sites.

Note that Miriam says this is something the CSS Working Group has been working on since 2017. And there’s a little momentum to pick it up and do something about it. The first thing you can do is support Miriam’s work — everything she does with the CSS Working Group (and it’s a lot) is a labor of love and relies on sponsorships, so chipping in is one way to push things forward.

The other thing you can do is chime into Miriam’s proposal that she published in 2021. I think it’s a solid idea. We can’t simply switch from physical to flow-relative terms in shorthand properties without triggering compatibility issues, so having some sort of higher-level instruction for CSS at the top of the stylesheet, perhaps as an at-rule that specifies which “mode” we’re in.

<coordinate-mode> = [ logical | physical ] or [ relative | absolute ] or ...

@mode <coordinate-mode>; /* must come after @import and before any style rules */

@mode <coordinate-mode> { <stylesheet> }

selector {
  property: value  !<coordinate-mode>;
}

Perhaps naming aside, it seems pretty reasonable, eh?


Support Logical Shorthands in CSS originally published on CSS-Tricks, which is part of the DigitalOcean family. You should get the newsletter.

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The Death of Coding Jobs: How AI, No-Code, and Corporate Greed Are Killing the Industry

March 24th, 2025 No comments

Coding jobs are vanishing fast—AI writes better code, no-code tools replace developers, and tech giants are slashing engineering teams. If you’re still clinging to “just coding,” wake up—adapt to AI, automation, and no-code, or get left in the dust.

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Top 9 Admin Templates for 2025

March 24th, 2025 No comments

If you’re a developer looking for the perfect admin templates in 2025, this guide is for you. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced professional, using a pre-built admin template can save time, effort, and resources. These templates come with built-in UI components, responsive layouts, and customization options, making dashboard development much easier.

Boost your web development with New Admin Templates Curated by Noupe Team

Here’s a handpicked list of the top 9 admin templates that are modern, beginner-friendly, and packed with useful features.


1. MaterialM Admin

Modern & Sleek (Next.js + Tailwind CSS) Admin Template

MaterialM Admin is designed using Tailwind CSS and Next.js, making it one of the fastest and most modern admin templates available. With its minimalistic design and intuitive interface, it’s perfect for developers looking for a clean and professional dashboard solution.

Key Features of MaterialM Template : 

  • Flowbite & Shadcn UI for a professional look
  • Built with Tailwind CSS and Next.js for flexibility
  • Pre-built UI components for faster development
  • Fully responsive for all screen sizes

Download Tailwind + React Version | Download Nextjs + Tailwind Version


2. Matdash Admin

Lightweight & Fast (Next.js + Tailwind) Admin Template

Matdash Admin is lightweight and optimized for performance, making it an excellent choice for Tailwind and Next.js projects. Its simple design ensures smooth navigation and fast load times.

Key Features of MatDash Template:

  • Minimalist design for better performance
  • Modular architecture for easy customization
  • Optimized for React and Next.js
  • Ideal for projects that require speed and efficiency

Download Tailwind + NextJs Version | Download Bootstrap Version


3. DashNext Admin

Easy to Use & Feature-Rich (Next.js) Admin Template

DashNext is built specifically for Next.js applications, offering a clean layout, pre-built pages, and a rich set of UI components. If you need a fully equipped dashboard that saves development time, DashNext is a great option.

Key Features of DashNext Template:

  • Pre-built pages to speed up development
  • Multiple UI components for easy customization
  • Designed specifically for Next.js projects
  • Clean and professional look

Download NextJs Version


4. Spike Admin

Open-Source & Lightweight (Bootstrap) Admin Template

Spike Admin is a free, open-source admin template that runs on Bootstrap. Its lightweight design and clean UI make it a great choice for developers who want a fast and simple solution.

Key Features of Spike Template:

  • Open-source and completely free
  • Multiple dashboards for different needs
  • Large set of UI components
  • Fully responsive and mobile-friendly

Download Bootstrap Version | Download NuxtJs Verison


5. Flexy Admin

User-Friendly & Highly Customizable (Next.js) Admin Template

Flexy Admin is a great all-rounder admin template that combines functionality and design. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, this template provides an intuitive experience and a highly customizable UI.

Key Features of Flexy Template:

  • Smooth and user-friendly interface
  • Works seamlessly with Next.js
  • Customizable components for flexibility
  • Great for both beginners and advanced developers

Download Nextjs + MUI Version | Download NuxtJs + Vuetify Version


6. MaterialPRO Admin

Material Design & Fully Responsive (Bootstrap 5) Admin Template

MaterialPRO is a Material Design-based admin template built with Bootstrap 5. It offers a wide range of UI components, multiple dashboards, and a modular design for easy customization.

Key Features of MaterialPRO Template:

  • Clean and modern Material Design layout
  • Fully responsive for all screen sizes
  • Multiple dashboards for different applications
  • Modular design for easy modifications

Download Bootstrap Version | Download React Version


7. AdminPro

Modern & Feature-Packed (Bootstrap) Admin Template

AdminPro is a Bootstrap-based admin dashboard template that offers a modern interface with multiple demos and color schemes. It’s perfect for developers who need a fully-featured and customizable dashboard solution.

Key Features of AdminPro Template:

  • Clean and modern design
  • Multiple demos and color options
  • Wide range of UI components
  • Fully responsive and cross-browser compatible

Download Bootstrap Version


8. Monster Admin

Sleek & Functional (React Hooks) Admin Template

Monster Admin is a React Hooks-based admin template that focuses on design and functionality. It includes multiple dashboards, UI components, and widgets, ensuring a seamless user experience.

Key Features of Monster Template:

  • Sleek and modern design
  • Built with React Hooks for performance
  • Multiple dashboards for different projects
  • Fully responsive for mobile and desktop

Download React Version


9. AdminWrap

Intuitive & Flexible (Bootstrap) Admin Template

AdminWrap is a Bootstrap-based admin dashboard with a clean and simple UI. It comes with various page templates, widgets, and UI components, making it easy to use for different applications.

Key Features of AdminWrap Template:

  • Clean and intuitive interface
  • Pre-built page templates for quick setup
  • Large set of UI components and widgets
  • Fully customizable and beginner-friendly

Download Bootstrap Version


Wrapping Up & What’s Next: Your Admin Template Journey

These 9 admin templates are some of the best options available in 2025 for building modern, responsive, and feature-rich dashboards. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, these templates can help you save time and effort while creating stunning admin panels.

Choose the right template based on your project needs, whether it’s Bootstrap, Next.js, or React Admin Templates

We understand the importance of flexibility and choice. That’s why we collect a wide range of admin templates to build with your favorite front-end frameworks.

Happy coding!

Featured image by Pankaj Patel on Unsplash

The post Top 9 Admin Templates for 2025 appeared first on noupe.

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Top Social Media Trends to Watch in 2025

March 24th, 2025 No comments

As 2025 approaches, social media is set to undergo major shifts that will completely transform how brands interact with their audiences and deliver content. The pace at which these platforms evolve means staying ahead of the curve is no longer optional — it’s essential for any brand that wants to make an impact. Are you prepared to stay ahead in your social media strategy? Here are the trends you’ll want to watch out for in the coming year.

Short-Form Video Domination

Short-form video will continue to dominate in 2025, with platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts leading the charge. These bite-sized videos are proven to capture attention and drive engagement, making them essential for brand storytelling.

Marketers will likely double down on short-form video content, optimizing it for mobile-first audiences. In 2025, interactive elements like polls, shopping features, and live videos within short-form content will become more common, offering users a more immersive and interactive experience.

AI-Driven Content Creation

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a buzzword — it’s reshaping the way content is created, shared, and consumed. In 2025, we can expect to see AI-powered tools used more widely for content generation, from automated captions and posts to personalized video creation.

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are already experimenting with AI-driven content suggestions. AI can study user behavior to craft tailored content that speaks directly to each person, resulting in higher engagement and improved conversion rates.

Businesses will likely adopt AI tools to streamline content production and create hyper-targeted campaigns, ensuring content feels more authentic and relevant to users.

Social Commerce Expansion

Social commerce — shopping directly through social media platforms — will be a massive trend in 2025. While Instagram and Facebook already offer built-in shopping features, expect this trend to expand further as more platforms integrate ecommerce capabilities.

As social commerce grows, influencers and brands will increasingly turn social media into a seamless shopping experience, allowing users to go from discovering products to making a purchase — all within the same app. 

Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest are already building features to make the shopping experience more intuitive, and we’ll likely see new features such as augmented reality (AR) try-ons, advanced product recommendations, and even virtual stores.

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Integration

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are gaining traction in social media, and by 2025, they’ll be even more embedded in the user experience. We’re already seeing AR features on platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook, where users can try on makeup, clothes, and accessories virtually.

In 2025, expect AR and VR to become even more immersive, with platforms offering new features like virtual showrooms, 3D product demos, and immersive experiences that make online shopping feel as tangible as in-store experiences. These technologies will help brands connect digital and physical experiences, boosting both engagement and conversions.

Influencer Marketing Evolves

Influencer marketing is far from fading; in fact, it’s evolving. As we move into 2025, micro and nano-influencers (those with smaller but more engaged followings) will become even more important. This shift is driven by the growing desire for authenticity in brand partnerships.

Brands are increasingly looking to collaborate with influencers who have niche audiences that match their target market. Expect influencer partnerships to be more collaborative, with creators having a say in the content they produce, making the messaging feel more authentic and relatable.

Brands will also start using AI tools to track and optimize the ROI of influencer campaigns, helping them make the most of these collaborations.

Social Media Platforms Embrace Privacy and Data Security

As data privacy concerns increase, social media platforms in 2025 will prioritize transparency and give users more control over their personal information. This will include more granular privacy settings and clearer opt-in consent forms for data usage.

Brands will need to adapt to these changes by ensuring they handle user data responsibly and comply with evolving privacy regulations. To earn back user trust, social media platforms are gearing up to introduce stronger security features, ensuring better protection from data breaches and creating a safer online space for their communities.

Sustainability and Social Responsibility in Social Media

In 2025, sustainability and social responsibility will be central themes for brands on social media. With increasing awareness of environmental and social issues, users are demanding that brands take a stand on important causes.

Brands will be expected to showcase their sustainability efforts and involvement in social justice causes through transparent and impactful messaging. Social media will keep playing a crucial role in helping brands express their values and engage with communities that resonate with those ideals.

In the future, expect to see a surge in campaigns centered around sustainability, charitable causes, and inclusivity.

Metaverse Integration

Though the Metaverse has been steadily growing in popularity, 2025 could mark its emergence as a dominant force in the social media world. As virtual worlds and immersive experiences evolve, platforms like Facebook (now Meta) are pushing forward with the integration of the Metaverse into their platforms.

For marketers, this could mean new virtual spaces for branding, advertising, and community building. Think of virtual stores, events, and live experiences that users can access with VR headsets or other immersive technologies. The Metaverse offers an entirely new world for brands to explore and engage with users in a novel way.

Ephemeral Content Remains Key

Ephemeral content — posts, stories, or videos that disappear after a set time — will continue to thrive in 2025. Platforms like Instagram Stories, Snapchat, and even LinkedIn Stories have proven that temporary content creates urgency and fosters more engagement.

In the near future, brands will likely lean more into ephemeral content to create a feeling of exclusivity and urgency, encouraging audiences to engage before it disappears. From behind-the-scenes glimpses to limited-time offers, ephemeral content will remain a valuable tool for driving engagement and creating authentic, real-time interactions.

AI and Automation in Social Media Management

As the demands of social media management grow, businesses will increasingly rely on AI and automation to streamline processes like content scheduling, customer service, and social listening. AI-powered tools will help marketers create more targeted content, analyze audience sentiment, and automate responses to customer inquiries.

In 2025, social media automation will be further refined, with more tools offering smart insights and personalized recommendations to optimize campaigns. While automation will increase efficiency, it’s crucial for brands to balance it with a human touch to maintain authenticity.

Final Thoughts

Social media in 2025 will be all about deeper engagement, more immersive experiences, and enhanced personalization. With AI transforming content creation, AR/VR pushing new boundaries, and social commerce booming, brands that keep up with these emerging trends will be the ones that truly stand out and build stronger connections with their audiences.

By embracing these trends, marketers can create more engaging, impactful social media strategies that resonate with the audiences of tomorrow. Now is the time to get ready, so your brand stays ahead and succeeds in the constantly shifting social media world.

Featured image by Olivier Bergeron on Unsplash

The post Top Social Media Trends to Watch in 2025 appeared first on noupe.

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Top 10 AI Tools Every Student Needs to Know About in 2025

March 24th, 2025 No comments

A decade ago, AI felt like something out of a sci-fi movie. Today, it’s become a part of our daily lives. AI-powered tools can help you with research, enhance your writing, and even optimize your study sessions.

But not all AI tools are created equal. Some are truly game-changing, while others just add to the digital clutter. That’s why I’ve curated this list of the top 10 AI tools that students should be using in 2025—each designed to make studying more efficient, learning more engaging, and academic life just a little bit easier.

I’ll break down how each tool works, what makes it special, and even provide pricing details.

Let’s dive in.

1. Jotform AI Quiz Generator

Self-testing is one of the most effective ways to retain information, but creating quizzes manually can be tedious. Jotform’s AI Quiz Generator removes that burden by automatically turning notes, PDFs, and prompts into quizzes.

What Does Jotform AI Quiz Generator Do?

This tool takes any text, document, or prompt and instantly converts it into a quiz. Whether you’re studying for a history exam or preparing for a science test, you can generate practice questions in seconds.

It supports multiple-choice, short-answer, and true-or-false formats, making it a flexible tool for self-assessment.

Pricing

  • Free Plan – Basic quiz creation with limited features.
  • Paid Plans (starting at $39/month) – Advanced features for educators and teams.

Pros & Cons

? Saves time by generating quizzes instantly.
? Works with different types of content—notes, PDFs, and prompts.
? Great for self-assessment before exams.

? Not ideal for complex subjects that require deep understanding rather than memorization.
? The paid version is expensive for casual student use.

2. Grammarly – More Than Just a Grammar Checker

There was a time when spell-check, such as the MS Word spell check, was the best writing assistant we had. Those days are long gone. Grammarly has evolved beyond just catching typos—today, it’s a full-fledged AI-powered writing coach that helps you refine your writing style, improve the clarity of your work, and even sound more confident on paper.

What Does Grammarly Do?

Grammarly analyses your writing and suggests improvements in real-time. It corrects spelling and grammar errors, offers word choice recommendations, and even provides suggestions based on tone, clarity, and conciseness. Whether you’re working on an essay, sending an email to a professor, or polishing a resume, Grammarly ensures your writing is clear, professional, and free of mistakes.

Pricing

  • Free Plan – Covers basic grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
  • Premium ($12/month) – Adds advanced clarity suggestions, tone adjustments, and plagiarism detection.

Pros & Cons

? Accurate and fast—catches errors that traditional spell-checkers miss.
? Enhances clarity and readability with intelligent rewriting suggestions.
? Works across multiple platforms, including Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and even emails.

? Premium version may be pricey for students on a tight budget.
? Doesn’t completely replace human proofreading, your judgment is also important.

3. Otter.ai – A Smarter Way to Take Notes

Imagine sitting in class, trying to scribble down every word your professor says while also trying to understand the lecture. It’s frustrating, right? That’s where Otter.ai steps in.

What Does Otter.ai Do?

Otter.ai is an AI-powered transcription tool that records, transcribes, and even summarizes spoken content in real-time. Whether you’re in a lecture, a group study session, or watching an online webinar, Otter captures everything word for word, so you can focus on listening instead of writing.

It even lets you search transcripts for key phrases, add highlights, and generate quick summaries—perfect for reviewing notes before an exam.

Pricing

  • Free Plan – 300 minutes of transcription per month.
  • Pro ($8.33/month) – 1,200 minutes per month, advanced summaries, team and note-sharing features.
  • Business ($20/month per user) – 6,000 transcription minutes per month. Team collaboration features with live captions.

Pros & Cons

? Saves time—no more struggling to take perfect notes in class.
? Searchable transcripts make it easy to find important points.
? Integrates with Zoom and Google Meet for seamless online class recordings.

? Free plan is very limited and may not be enough for most users.
? Speech recognition isn’t perfect—technical terms and accents can sometimes cause errors.

4. ChatGPT

When you’re stuck on a difficult concept, wouldn’t it be great to have a personal tutor available 24/7? That’s what ChatGPT offers—instant explanations, study help, and even assistance with assignments.

What Does ChatGPT Do?

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that can answer questions, explain topics in simple terms, generate study guides, and even help with problem-solving.

Need an essay outline? ChatGPT can draft one in seconds. Struggling with a math concept? It can break it down step by step. It’s like having a virtual tutor that never gets tired.

Pricing

  • Free Plan – Access to GPT-3.5.
  • Plus ($20/month) – Access to GPT-4, faster and more advanced responses.

Pros & Cons

? Great for quick explanations and study guides.
? Helps with brainstorming essays and structuring ideas.
? Can generate personalized practice questions.

? Doesn’t always provide 100% accurate information. Don’t use it to replace yourself. It’s a helper or assistant to you, not your replacement.
? Free version has usage limits for advanced features.

5. Duolingo AI – A Smarter Way to Learn Languages

Learning a new language is tough. Memorizing vocabulary, figuring out grammar rules, and trying to pronounce words correctly, can feel overwhelming. Traditional methods like textbooks and flashcards can help, but they’re not always engaging. That’s where Duolingo comes in.

What Does Duolingo Do?

Duolingo has always been one of the most popular language-learning apps in the world, but with its AI-powered features, it has become even more effective. The language learning tool adapts to your learning style, identifies weak areas, and customizes exercises to help you improve.

One of its standout features is Duolingo Max, which offers AI-driven roleplay exercises and detailed explanations for mistakes. Instead of just memorizing phrases, you get to practice conversations with AI chatbots that simulate real-life scenarios—a huge advantage for students who need to build confidence in speaking.

Pricing

  • Free Plan – All lessons with ads and hearts which get depleted and need to be refilled by either waiting or doing practice exercises.
  • Super Duolingo ($6.99/month) – Removes ads, provides unlimited hearts (lives) and other cool features.
  • Duolingo Max ($12.99/month) – Includes AI-powered roleplay and smart explanations.

Pros & Cons

? Personalized lessons adapt to your learning speed.
? AI-powered roleplay makes practicing conversation more natural.
? Gamified experience keeps learning engaging and consistent.

? Free version has limited features and frequent ads.
? AI-generated feedback can sometimes be generic.

If you’re looking for an interactive and engaging way to learn a new language, Duolingo AI is one of the best options available.

6. Quizlet

Flashcards have been a student favourite for years, but what if they could be smarter? Instead of manually creating flashcards and guessing what to review, Quizlet AI does the hard work for you.

What Does Quizlet AI Do?

Quizlet uses AI to generate flashcards, quizzes, and personalized study plans based on your learning patterns. It also uses spaced repetition, a scientifically proven method to help students retain information more effectively.

One of its newer AI-powered features is Magic Notes, which automatically transforms lecture notes into flashcards. Instead of spending hours organizing study materials, students can let AI turn notes into study sets instantly.

Pricing

  • Free Plan – Basic flashcards and quizzes.
  • Quizlet Plus ($6.33/month or $28.36/year) – AI-generated study plans, Magic Notes, smart grading and more.

Pros & Cons

? AI-generated flashcards save time.
? Spaced repetition improves memory retention.
? Smart grading and practice tests make studying more efficient.

? Free version has ads and limited features.
? Not ideal for subjects that require deep critical thinking.

7. Elicit – AI-Powered Research Assistant

Writing research papers can be one of the most time-consuming tasks for students. Finding reliable sources, reading through lengthy academic articles, and summarizing information takes hours. Elicit helps streamline the process by using AI to find, analyse, and summarize research papers.

What Does Elicit Do?

Elicit is designed to help students quickly gather and understand research articles without spending endless hours sifting through irrelevant sources. Instead of relying solely on Google Scholar, Elicit’s AI scans academic databases and extracts key insights from research papers.

It also provides AI-generated summaries of complex studies, making it easier to digest long papers without missing important details.

Pricing

  • Free Plan – Basic AI research assistance.
  • Paid Plans (starting at $12/month) – Advanced research tools and priority access to AI-generated summaries.

Pros & Cons

? Saves time by summarizing lengthy academic papers.
? Finds relevant research faster than traditional search engines.
? Helps students quickly compare different studies.

? Doesn’t always find the most recent or niche research.
? May require manual verification of AI-generated summaries.

8. Notion AI 

Most students use some kind of note-taking system, but keeping everything organized—class notes, assignments, project ideas, and deadlines—can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where Notion comes in.

What Does Notion AI Do?

Notion has long been a favorite for productivity and organization, but its AI-powered features take it to another level. It can summarize long notes, generate to-do lists, and even suggest ways to structure your study materials.

One of its most useful features is AI-powered task automation, which helps students manage assignments by automatically prioritizing tasks and setting reminders. Whether you need to organize research, plan a group project, or just keep track of deadlines, Notion keeps everything organized and in one place.

Pricing

  • Free Plan – Basic note-taking and organization features.
  • Notion Plus ($10/month) – AI-powered writing, summaries, and advanced organization tools.
  • Notion AI ($8) – Charged independently from the notion plan. Meaning you can use Notion AI with a free plan by paying $8.

Pros & Cons

? AI-generated summaries help condense study materials.
? Organizes notes, assignments, and research in one place.
? Customizable templates make planning easy.

? AI features require a paid subscription.
? Can be overwhelming to set up for beginners.

9. TLDRThis

Long readings are a major part of academic life. Whether it’s research papers, textbooks, or articles, students often find themselves drowning in pages of dense reading material. Not everything needs to be read in full, and that’s where TLDRThis comes in.

What Does TLDRThis Do?

TLDRThis is an AI-powered text summarization tool that condenses long articles, research papers, and essays into key points. Instead of spending hours reading through unnecessary details, students can use TLDRThis to get a concise summary of the most important takeaways.

It also allows students to summarize web pages and PDF documents—a great feature when working on research projects.

Pricing

  • Free Plan – Basic text summarization.
  • Premium ($9.99/month) – Advanced summaries, unlimited usage, and customizable summary length.

Pros & Cons

? Saves time by highlighting key information in seconds.
? Works with academic papers, articles, and PDFs.
? Helps students quickly extract relevant details from research.

? Doesn’t work well with complex, technical content.
? AI-generated summaries may miss some nuanced details.

10. Coral AI – Your AI-Powered Research Assistant

Research is one of the most time-consuming parts of academic work. Finding relevant sources, sifting through studies, and organizing research can take hours or even days. Like Elicit, Coral AI is built to change that. However, Coral and Elicit each have their own unique features.

What Does Coral AI Do?

Coral AI is an AI-powered research assistant designed to help students gather, analyze, and structure academic research faster. It automates source discovery, summarizes key points, and even organizes research findings.

One of its most valuable features is its ability to quickly extract insights from multiple sources and present them in a structured format. Instead of manually scanning dozens of papers, Coral AI finds the most relevant information for you. Coral also allows you to chat with the files by asking questions and getting answers based on the sources provided.

Pricing

  • Free Plan – Basic research assistance.
  • Pro Plan ($14) – Advanced AI-driven research features.

Pros & Cons

? Automates research and organizes sources efficiently.
? Saves time by summarizing academic content.
? Helps students discover relevant studies faster.

? May require manual fact-checking of AI-generated summaries.
? Many advanced features may be behind a paywall.

For students working on research-intensive assignments, Coral AI can significantly cut down the time spent finding and analyzing academic sources.

Conclusion:

AI is changing the way students learn, study, and manage academic tasks. Instead of relying on outdated study methods, today’s students have access to powerful AI tools that can enhance productivity, improve writing, and streamline research.

Here’s a quick recap of the 10 best AI tools for students in 2025:

  1. Jotform AI Quiz Generator – Converts notes into interactive quizzes.
  2. Grammarly – AI-powered writing and grammar assistant.
  3. Otter.ai – Real-time lecture transcription and note-taking.
  4. ChatGPT – AI-powered study assistant and tutor.
  5. Duolingo AI – Smart language learning with AI-driven exercises.
  6. Quizlet AI – Personalized flashcards and spaced repetition.
  7. Elicit – AI-driven research summarization.
  8. Notion AI – AI-powered study organization and task management.
  9. TLDRThis – AI summarization for faster reading.
  10. Coral AI – AI research assistant to streamline academic work.

Each of these tools addresses a specific academic challenge, from writing better papers and taking smarter notes to optimizing study sessions and conducting research efficiently. While AI won’t replace hard work and dedication, it can certainly make studying easier, more effective, and less stressful. Whether you need help writing an essay, preparing for exams, or conducting research, these AI tools can help you work smarter, not harder.

Featured image by Siora Photography on Unsplash

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The Impact of AI Agents on E-Commerce and User Interaction

March 24th, 2025 No comments

AI has significantly influenced most of our daily tasks, from booking tickets to noting down something important afterward. That’s the same impact AI agents have on e-commerce, influencing its process to excel in performance and increase conversion. It’s true, and it can be seen that around 90% of Big E-Commerce firms have tried out AI in the supply chain. In this post, we’re not just going to discuss the usual AI model, but about AI agents and how they are going to impact E-Commerce and user interaction. But before diving into understanding the role & impact of AI agents in the retail sector, you need to know what they actually are:

Are AI Agents the Same as Usual AI Models?

AI has revolutionized everything from usual daily tasks to complicated professional tasks at work. Now, the innovation has taken it to the next phase with the introduction of intelligent agents. They are commonly addressed as AI agents; they work to automate and personalize customer interactions throughout various channels. If you wonder how they do it? Then, the explanation is that they understand the starting of an event as per the environment, go through the data, and finally make decisions as per that. What differentiates them from the other AI models is the fact that they learn and adapt to new changes on their own. This factor lets AI agents easily upscale themselves. It’s another fact that the agents can be combined to create a multi-agent system to deal with different tasks as they come its ways, for example, product price optimization, customer support, product recommendations and so on. How trustworthy are these AI agents? Then, around 50%-60% of shoppers were interested in using AI agents to purchase Medicine, clothes, beauty items and electronics. You should be well aware of the fact that numbers don’t lie, so we have given that to you.

Source: Statista

Now, let’s understand how AI agents work for E-Commerce. It’s a fact that an AI-powered workforce impressively smoothens every task and lightens up the workload, enhancing efficiency, and reducing errors. But if you are still wondering about the impact of AI Agents on E-Commerce, then answers to your questions are given below:

Dealing with Customer Service Challenges:

With the introduction of new technologies, the customer expectation for exceptional service continues to rise, and it’s normal, too. These trends are emphasized by industry giants who are setting higher standards. The CX leaders provide greater emphasis on operational customer excellence. It can be seen as the E-Commerce AI chatbots powered with AI agents addressing the challenge of long wait times by automating routine tasks. This factor allows human agents to focus on more complex issues with ease.

Optimising Supply Chain:

AI Agents have been enhancing the overall functioning of the E-Commerce sector. They’ve been a crucial factor in optimizing the supply chain, which is incredibly complex to handle. There are plenty of variables that affect the efficiency of the supply chain, which makes it quite difficult and essential for E-Commerce. These agents can effectively enhance the routes, deal with supplier relationships, and forecast disruptions that occur due to factors like geopolitical events and weather. It’s a fact that early adopters of AI-enabled supply chain management mitigate logistics costs by 15% and enhance service levels. The agents work it out by analyzing historical sales data & trends to forecast future demand accurately.

Helps to Identify & Deal with Fraud:

It’s a new normal how AI Agents are sorting out big issues in the business sectors. When it comes to E-Commerce platforms, fraudulent activities are quite a big issue in which they have offered help. The agents utilize advanced ML algorithms for analyzing the data of transactions and identifying suspicious patterns and fraudulent behavior in real time. This unique feature lets AI agents keep both businesses and customers protected from financial or reputational damage.

Different Types of AI Agents for E-Commerce

There are different types of AI Agents when it comes to E-Commerce to serve various purposes. They can be used for simple rule-based systems to fully autonomous self-learning models. In the following, we’ve classified them and their application when it comes to E-Commerce.

Model-Based AI Agents:

These are AI Agents that have memory and learning capabilities. They utilize machine learning algorithms to previous interactions and optimize the decision-making as per that. These AI shopping agents are widely used in E-Commerce to enhance operational efficiency and personalization. One of the crucial applications is personalized product recommendations. They recommend products on the basis of browsing history, like if you’re searching for hiking boots. By identifying the purchase behavior, they suggest products on the basis of price and brands like Merrell, Salomon, Hoka, and more. There are many E-Commerce platforms that can or are currently utilising them for personalized product recommendations, such as Amazon & Ubuy, to provide suggestions on the basis of user behavior. They are quite impressive in dynamic pricing, in which AI adjusts product prices according to competitor prices, inventory levels and demand.

The best tools to use for your e-commerce store is Jotform AI Agents.

Reactive AI Agents:

When it comes to following rules and patterns, you can go forward with Reactive AI Agents. They don’t have memory or learning capabilities, which means they aren’t able to improve over time. On the other hand, they offer fast responses as per the specific inputs. They are used in chatbots that deal with FAQs and offer solutions to minimalist problems. Reactive AI Agents are also power-rule-based recommendations and can suggest bestsellers or trending products. On the other hand, they come handy in fraud detection systems to find anomalies as per the predefined criteria.

Goal Oriented AI Agents:

These are agents that optimize specific objectives, like increasing conversions or reducing cart abandonment rates. They learn and apply different strategies and refine their approach as per the performance. One of the impactful use cases is marketing automation. These agents analyze customer data to manage email campaigns, social media ads and retargeting strategies. Other than that, they enhance inventory management to predict demand fluctuation, making sure stocks are balanced.

Autonomous AI Agents:

If you would like to find out about the impact of AI Agents on E-Commerce, then it can’t be done if you missed Autonomous AI Agents. They function without human intervention and make decisions based on evolving data. They are helpful in warehouse automation. These agents handle inventory, manage stock levels and fulfill orders with minimum human oversight.

Verdict: The Future is Here

To give you a clear understanding of the impact of AI Agents on E-Commerce, we covered all major factors. Their rise showcases the shift in E-Commerce and retail. The ones who embrace it early can get a competitive advantage; as you can see, Amazon is among some of the few to first turn to LLM development to build a product recommendation system. Now, it brings around 35% of its revenue with its help. Utilizing AI Agents like E-Commerce AI chatbots helps automate complex tasks, improving efficiency and delivering superior customer experiences. It’s another fact that in the upcoming time when AI Agents operate autonomously across different domains. The only brands that will succeed will be those that learn, adapt, and invest in building an AI-augmented workforce today.

Featured image by freepik

The post The Impact of AI Agents on E-Commerce and User Interaction appeared first on noupe.

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7 Best AI Podcasts to Stay Ahead in Artificial Intelligence in 2025

March 21st, 2025 No comments

AI, the latest technology powerhouse, is rapidly changing almost every technology we are using. Keeping up with this quick transformation is daunting yet mandatory to stay on track.

In this blog, we will showcase seven popular podcasts of experts and critics to give you a platform for a well-rounded understanding.

But first – how can AI-focused podcasts benefit you?

Benefits of Listening to AI Podcasts

AI has infiltrated almost every phase of our lives, be it education or e-commerce, business or product development. The core benefits of listening to an AI podcast can be summarized in these points:

Gain from Expert Insights

AI experts hosting such podcasts deliver fresh insights on new developments in neural networks, machine learning (ML), and other facets of AI.

Educational Potential

AI podcasts serve as one of the best educational tools with a lot of learning potential – and you can listen to them on the go or while working on repetitive chores.

Implementing Ideas

The best AI podcasts can change the way you look at AI and its applications. In fact, new methods of developing AI-driven services can help you transform your way of executing professional responsibilities.

Screen Time Reduction

Listen to AI podcasts to reduce screen time and go for a digital detoxification. You can also connect with communities with the same mindset and indulge in meaningful discussions.

These benefits hold value when you choose the best AI podcast channels to listen to. And how can you choose the best AI podcasts? Let’s find out.

Criteria for Choosing the Best AI Podcasts

These criteria will assist in sorting the right AI podcast channels and platforms.

Host Credibility

The podcast host’s background matters a lot. We looked for hosts who have real experience working with AI, either as researchers, developers, or industry professionals. Hosts who understand AI concepts can ask better questions and explain complex ideas in ways that make sense to listeners.

Guest Quality

The value of a podcast also depends on the expert being interviewed. The best AI podcasts feature respected industry experts, innovative thinkers and people actively working on modern AI concepts.

Content Depth

Good AI podcasts go beyond surface-level discussions for beginners and experts. They should explain not just what is happening in AI but why it matters and how it works. The best podcasts will balance technical aspects, problems or pain points, and practical applications. These podcasts will help you visualize a bigger picture.

Release Frequency

As mentioned, AI is evolving at an exponential rate. Podcasts with consistent releases will only keep up with that pace. They don’t let listeners wait by publishing episodes regularly. A steady release also reflects on creators’ commitment to the listeners.

Production Quality

Clear audio, good editing, and a well-organized conversation format make learning easier. Good podcasts preserve these traits and make the podcasts engaging.

Keep these criteria in mind and read this precise list of AI podcasts to start your journey of learning.

7 Best AI Podcasts

AI Agents Podcast

C:UsersSOUMYADesktopBest AI Podcasts1 Jotform AI Agents.png

Podcast Hosts:

  • Aytekin Tank (Founder & CEO, Jotform)
  • Demetri Panici (Founder, Rise Productive)

Best For: Practical AI applications, business automation, and AI agent technology

Overview: Jotform’s AI podcast scouts AI agent technology, implementation strategies, and real-world applications across various industries.

Key Features:

  • Regular episodes featuring industry experts and innovative AI use cases
  • Practical demonstrations of the latest AI tools and technologies
  • Focus on business applications and productivity enhancements by comparing AI tools

Accessibility: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music

Why It’s a Top Pick for 2025

AI Agents discusses AI implementation in different industrial and professional spheres. It provides actionable insights for businesses looking to implement AI agents for productivity, customer service, and automation.

AI in Business

C:UsersSOUMYADesktopBest AI Podcasts2 AI in Business from Emerj.png

Podcast Host

  • Daniel Faggella (Founder of Emerj)

Best For: Business leaders, executives, and decision-makers seeking practical AI implementation strategies

Overview: A weekly podcast cutting through AI hype to deliver factual trends and insights specifically tailored for business and government leaders.

Key Features:

  • Interviews with AI executives, investors, and researchers
  • Focus on ROI-driven AI applications with real business value
  • Strategic AI considerations for organizational planning

Accessibility: Apple iTunes, SoundCloud, Google Play, and Stitcher

Why It’s a Top Pick for 2025

AI in Business has a straight approach to AI adoption focusing exclusively on practical applications with demonstrable ROI and actionable intelligence.

The TWIML AI Podcast

C:UsersSOUMYADesktopBest AI Podcasts3 The TWIML AI Podcast.png

Podcast Host:

  • Sam Charrington (Founder & Principal Analyst, CloudPulse Strategies)

Best For: Technical professionals, researchers, and AI practitioners seeking in-depth technical discussions

Overview: A leading technical AI podcast covering cutting-edge research, emerging trends, and practical applications across the machine learning landscape.

Key Features:

  • Explaining complex AI topics like LLMs, reinforcement learning, and multimodal systems
  • Specialized series focusing on specific AI domains and applications
  • Consistent release schedule with a catalog of over 700 episodes

Accessibility: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Overcast

Why It’s a Top Pick for 2025: The TWIML AI Podcast covers the technical depths of emerging technologies like AI agents, reasoning models, and edge AI.

AI Today

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Hosts:

  • Kathleen Walch (Founder, Cognilytica)
  • Ronald Schmelzer (Founder, Cognilytica)

Best For: Business leaders, industry professionals, and technology enthusiasts seeking practical AI applications

Overview: A no-hype podcast delivering real-world insights on industrial AI implementation.

Key Features:

  • Industry-specific AI use cases  in marketing, telecommunications, real estate, etc
  • Interviews with enterprise leaders and AI practitioners
  • More focus on practical AI applications than theoretical discussions

Accessibility: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Why It’s a Top Pick for 2025

AI Today breaks down complex technologies into understandable and actionable insights with industry-specific focus.

Practical AI

C:UsersSOUMYADesktopBest AI Podcasts5 Practical AI.png

Hosts:

  • Chris Benson (AI / Autonomy Research Engineer, Lockheed Martin)
  • Daniel Whitenack (Founder, Prediction Guard)

Best For: Developers, technology professionals, and AI enthusiasts looking for AI solutions

Overview: A podcast focused on making artificial intelligence accessible and practical, covering real-world implementations rather than theoretical concepts.

Key Features:

  • Implementing AI technologies like LLMs, MLOps, and edge AI
  • Interviews with industry practitioners and experts
  • Focus on hands-on AI experience

Accessibility: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast

Why It’s a Top Pick for 2025

Practical AI focuses on real-world AI applications rather than theoretical discussions. The podcasts emphasize efficiency, like IBM’s Granite approach to edge AI.

Last Week in AI

C:UsersSOUMYADesktopBest AI Podcasts6 Last Week in AI.png

Host: Multiple hosts

Best For: AI researchers, developers, and industry watchers

Overview: A news-focused podcast covering the most significant weekly developments in artificial intelligence.

Key Features:

  • Regular episodes highlighting major AI announcements and research papers
  • Detailed analysis of new AI models from major companies (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google)
  • Coverage of industry trends, funding news, and technical breakthroughs

Accessibility: Substack and RSS Feed

Why It’s a Top Pick for 2025

The podcast focuses on breaking down technical advancements (like DeepSeek’s reasoning models or Anthropic’s extended thinking capabilities) and business moves in the AI world.

Data Skeptic

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Host: 

  • Kyle Polich (Founder, Data Skeptic, and data science solution expert)

Best For: AI professionals, researchers, and critical thinkers

Overview: A scientifically rigorous podcast that examines AI topics with a skeptical lens to challenge industry hype.

Key Features:

  • Interviews with leading researchers
  • Season-based formats exploring single topics related to NLP, interpretability, and machine intelligence)
  • Combines storytelling techniques with academic rigor to make complex concepts accessible
  • Critical examination of ethical, philosophical, and societal implications of AI

Accessibility: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and other major platforms

Why It’s a Top Pick for 2025

Data Skeptic is known for its scientific approach and willingness to challenge prevailing narratives in AI with evidence-based discussions and critical thinking.

Turn Your Downtime into AI Learning Time with AI Podcasts

The AI world is moving at a breakneck speed. If you blink, you will miss significant developments in this sphere. So, hold this best AI podcast list close or make a custom one as per your preferences. 

Introducing these remarkable audio resources in your daily routine will change your perspective of AI. The conversations of industry pioneers, researchers, and tech experts will help demystify complex AI topics. 

Use this valuable learning opportunity to implement use-case-driven examples and strategic insights to transform your professional sphere.

Featured Image by C D-X on Unsplash

The post 7 Best AI Podcasts to Stay Ahead in Artificial Intelligence in 2025 appeared first on noupe.

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Revisiting CSS border-image

March 21st, 2025 No comments

In my last article on “Revisiting CSS Multi-Column Layout”, I mentioned that almost twenty years have flown by since I wrote my first book, Transcending CSS. In it, I explained how and why to use what were, at the time, an emerging CSS property.

Ten years later, I wrote the Hardboiled Web Design Fifth Anniversary Edition, covering similar ground and introducing the new CSS border-image property.

Hint: I published an updated version, Transcending CSS Revisited which is free to read online. Hardboiled Web Design is available from my bookshop.

I was very excited about the possibilities this new property would offer. After all, we could now add images to the borders of any element, even table cells and rows (unless their borders had been set to collapse).

Since then, I’ve used border-image regularly. Yet, it remains one of the most underused CSS tools, and I can’t, for the life of me, figure out why. Is it possible that people steer clear of border-image because its syntax is awkward and unintuitive? Perhaps it’s because most explanations don’t solve the type of creative implementation problems that most people need to solve. Most likely, it’s both.

I’ve recently been working on a new website for Emmy-award-winning game composer Mike Worth. He hired me to create a highly graphical design that showcases his work, and I used border-image throughout.

Design by Andy Clarke, Stuff & Nonsense. Mike Worth’s website will launch in April 2025, but you can see examples from this article on CodePen.

A brief overview of properties and values

First, here’s a short refresher. Most border-image explanations begin with this highly illuminating code snippet:

border-image: [source] [slice]/[width]/[outset] [repeat]

This is shorthand for a set of border-image properties, but it’s best to deal with properties individually to grasp the concept more easily.

A border-image’s source

I’ll start with the source of the bitmap or vector format image or CSS gradient to be inserted into the border space:

border-image-source: url('/img/scroll.png');

When I insert SVG images into a border, I have several choices as to how. I could use an external SVG file:

border-image-source: url('/img/scroll.svg');

Or I might convert my SVG to data URI using a tool like Base64.Guru although, as both SVG and HTML are XML-based, this isn’t recommended:

border-image-source: url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,…');

Instead, I can add the SVG code directly into the source URL value and save one unnecessary HTTP request:

border-image-source: url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,…');

Finally, I could insert an entirely CSS-generated conical, linear, or radial gradient into my border:

border-image-source: conical-gradient(…);

Tip: It’s useful to remember that a browser renders a border-image above an element’s background and box-shadow but below its content. More on that a little later.

Slicing up a border-image

Now that I’ve specified the source of a border image, I can apply it to a border by slicing it up and using the parts in different positions around an element. This can be the most baffling aspect for people new to border-image.

Most border-image explanations show an example where the pieces will simply be equally-sized, like this:

Showing nine star shapes in the same images displayed as a three-by-three grid.

However, a border-image can be developed from any shape, no matter how complex or irregular.

Instead of simply inserting an image into a border and watching it repeat around an element, invisible cut-lines slice up a border-image into nine parts. These lines are similar to the slice guides found in graphics applications. The pieces are, in turn, inserted into the nine regions of an element’s border.

Dissecting the top, right, bottom, and left slices of a border image.

The border-image-slice property defines the size of each slice by specifying the distance from each edge of the image. I could use the same distance from every edge:

border-image-slice: 65

I can combine top/bottom and left/right values:

border-image-slice: 115 65;

Or, I can specify distance values for all four cut-lines, running clockwise: top, right, bottom, left:

border-image-slice: 65 65 115 125;

The top-left of an image will be used on the top-left corner of an element’s border. The bottom-right will be used on the bottom-right, and so on.

Diagram of the nine border image slices.

I don’t need to add units to border-image-slice values when using a bitmap image as the browser correctly assumes bitmaps use pixels. The SVG viewBox makes using them a little different, so I also prefer to specify their height and width:

<svg height="600px" width="600px">…</svg>

Don’t forget to set the widths of these borders, as without them, there will be nowhere for a border’s image to display:

border-image-width: 65px 65px 115px 125px;

Filling in the center

So far, I’ve used all four corners and sides of my image, but what about the center? By default, the browser will ignore the center of an image after it’s been sliced. But I can put it to use by adding the fill keyword to my border-image-slice value:

border-image-slice: 65px 65px 115px 125px fill;

Setting up repeats

With the corners of my border images in place, I can turn my attention to the edges between them. As you might imagine, the slice at the top of an image will be placed on the top edge. The same is true of the right, bottom, and left edges. In a flexible design, we never know how wide or tall these edges will be, so I can fine-tune how images will repeat or stretch when they fill an edge.

Showing the same image four times, once per type of repeat, including stretch, repeat, round, and space.

Stretch: When a sliced image is flat or smooth, it can stretch to fill any height or width. Even a tiny 65px slice can stretch to hundreds or thousands of pixels without degrading.

border-image-repeat: stretch;

Repeat: If an image has texture, stretching it isn’t an option, so it can repeat to fill any height or width.

border-image-repeat: repeat;

Round: If an image has a pattern or shape that can’t be stretched and I need to match the edges of the repeat, I can specify that the repeat be round. A browser will resize the image so that only whole pieces display inside an edge.

border-image-repeat: round;

Space: Similar to round, when using the space property, only whole pieces will display inside an edge. But instead of resizing the image, a browser will add spaces into the repeat.

border-image-repeat: space;

When I need to specify a separate stretch, repeat, round, or space value for each edge, I can use multiple keywords:

border-image-repeat: stretch round;

Outsetting a border-image

There can be times when I need an image to extend beyond an element’s border-box. Using the border-image-outset property, I can do just that. The simplest syntax extends the border image evenly on all sides by 10px:

border-image-outset: 10px;

Of course, there being four borders on every element, I could also specify each outset individually:

border-image-outset: 20px 10px; 
/* or */
border-image-outset: 20px 10px 0;

border-image in action

Mike Worth is a video game composer who’s won an Emmy for his work. He loves ’90s animation — especially Disney’s Duck Tales — and he asked me to create custom artwork and develop a bold, retro-style design.

Four examples of page layouts, including the main menu, a default page, message received confirmation, and a 404 page, all featuring bold cartoon illustrations reminiscent of nineties Disney cartoons.

My challenge when developing for Mike was implementing my highly graphical design without compromising performance, especially on mobile devices. While it’s normal in CSS to accomplish the same goal in several ways, here, border-image often proved to be the most efficient.

Decorative buttons

The easiest and most obvious place to start was creating buttons reminiscent of stone tablets with chipped and uneven edges.

Illustration of chipped and zagged edges spliced up for border-image.

I created an SVG of the tablet shape and added it to my buttons using border-image:

button {
  border-image-repeat: stretch;
  border-image-slice: 10 10 10 10 fill;
  border-image-source: url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,…');
  border-image-width: 20px;
}

I set the border-image-repeat on all edges to stretch and the center slice to fill so these stone tablet-style buttons expand along with their content to any height or width.

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Article scroll

I want every aspect of Mike’s website design to express his brand. That means continuing the ’90s cartoon theme in his long-form content by turning it into a paper scroll.

Page layout of a paper scroll with jagged edges on the sides and rolled paper on the top and bottom.

The markup is straightforward with just a single article element:

<article>
  <!-- ... -->
</article>

But, I struggled to decide how to implement the paper effect. My first thought was to divide my scroll into three separate SVG files (top, middle, and bottom) and use pseudo-elements to add the rolled up top and bottom parts of the scroll. I started by applying a vertically repeating graphic to the middle of my article:

article {
  padding: 10rem 8rem;
  box-sizing: border-box;
  /* Scroll middle */
  background-image: url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,…');
  background-position: center;
  background-repeat: repeat-y;
  background-size: contain;
}

Then, I added two pseudo-elements, each containing its own SVG content:

article:before {
  display: block;
  position: relative;
  top: -30px;
  /* Scroll top */
  content: url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,…');
}

article:after {
  display: block;
  position: relative;
  top: 50px;
  /* Scroll bottom */
  content: url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,…');
}

While this implementation worked as expected, using two pseudo-elements and three separate SVG files felt clumsy. However, using border-image, one SVG, and no pseudo-elements feels more elegant and significantly reduces the amount of code needed to implement the effect.

I started by creating an SVG of the complete tablet shape:

And I worked out the position of the four cut-lines:

Then, I inserted this single SVG into my article’s border by first selecting the source, slicing the image, and setting the top and bottom edges to stretch and the left and right edges to round:

article {
  border-image-slice: 150 95 150 95 fill;
  border-image-width: 150px 95px 150px 95px;
  border-image-repeat: stretch round;
  border-image-source: url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,…');
}

The result is a flexible paper scroll effect which adapts to both the viewport width and any amount or type of content.

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Home page overlay

My final challenge was implementing the action-packed graphic I’d designed for Mike Worth’s home page. This contains a foreground SVG featuring Mike’s orangutan mascot and a zooming background graphic:

<section>
  <!-- content -->
  <div>...</div>

  <!-- ape -->
  <div>
    <svg>…</svg>
  </div>
</section>

I defined the section as a positioning context for its children:

section {
  position: relative;
}

Then, I absolutely positioned a pseudo-element and added the zooming graphic to its background:

section:before {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  z-index: -1;
  background-image: url('data:image/svg+xml;utf8,…');
  background-position: center center;
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
  background-size: 100%;
}

I wanted this graphic to spin and add subtle movement to the panel, so I applied a simple CSS animation to the pseudo-element:

@keyframes spin-bg {
  from { transform: rotate(0deg); }
  to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
}

section:before {
  animation: spin-bg 240s linear infinite;
}

Next, I added a CSS mask to fade the edges of the zooming graphic into the background. The CSS mask-image property specifies a mask layer image, which can be a PNG image, an SVG image or mask, or a CSS gradient:

section:before {
  mask-image: radial-gradient(circle, rgb(0 0 0) 0%, rgb(0 0 0 / 0) 60%);
  mask-repeat: no-repeat;
}

At this point, you might wonder where a border image could be used in this design. To add more interactivity to the graphic, I wanted to reduce its opacity and change its color — by adding a colored gradient overlay — when someone interacts with it. One of the simplest, but rarely-used, methods for applying an overlay to an element is using border-image. First, I added a default opacity and added a brief transition:

section:before {
  opacity: 1;
  transition: opacity .25s ease-in-out;
}

Then, on hover, I reduced the opacity to .5 and added a border-image:

section:hover::before {
  opacity: .5;
  border-image: fill 0 linear-gradient(rgba(0,0,255,.25),rgba(255,0,0,1));
}

You may ponder why I’ve not used the other border-image values I explained earlier, so I’ll dissect that declaration. First is the border-image-slice value, where zero pixels ensures that the eight corners and edges stay empty. The fill keyword ensures the middle section is filled with the linear gradient. Second, the border-image-source is a CSS linear gradient that blends blue into red. A browser renders this border-image above the background but behind the content.

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Conclusion: You should take a fresh look at border-image

The border-image property is a powerful, yet often overlooked, CSS tool that offers incredible flexibility. By slicing, repeating, and outsetting images, you can create intricate borders, decorative elements, and even dynamic overlays with minimal code.

In my work for Mike Worth’s website, border-image proved invaluable, improving performance while maintaining a highly graphical aesthetic. Whether used for buttons, interactive overlays, or larger graphic elements, border-image can create visually striking designs without relying on extra markup or multiple assets.

If you’ve yet to experiment with border-image, now’s the time to revisit its potential and add it to your design toolkit.

Hint: Mike Worth’s website will launch in April 2025, but you can see examples from this article on CodePen.

About Andy Clarke

Often referred to as one of the pioneers of web design, Andy Clarke has been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of web design and is known for his creative and visually stunning designs. His work has inspired countless designers to explore the full potential of product and website design.

Andy’s written several industry-leading books, including Transcending CSS, Hardboiled Web Design, and Art Direction for the Web. He’s also worked with businesses of all sizes and industries to achieve their goals through design.

Visit Andy’s studio, Stuff & Nonsense, and check out his Contract Killer, the popular web design contract template trusted by thousands of web designers and developers.


Revisiting CSS border-image originally published on CSS-Tricks, which is part of the DigitalOcean family. You should get the newsletter.

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Our Interfaces Have Lost Their Senses — And It’s Time to Bring Them Back!

March 21st, 2025 No comments

In *”Our Interfaces Have Lost Their Senses,”* Amelia Wattenberger critiques how modern digital interfaces have become sterile and lack sensory engagement. She calls for a return to more immersive, sensory-rich designs that connect us to technology in meaningful, tactile ways.

Categories: Designing, Others Tags: