covid struck once again and took me out for a few weeks. now i’m back with a few changes:

• the recipe editor works!
• there’s a new design, inspired by the arc browser - a light texture and a gradient, with glass-like accents, shadows and rounded edges.

the design challenge

i wanted a design that is easy on the eyes but also doesn’t look too boring. recipe apps have a tricky balance to strike - the food should be the star, but the interface still needs personality.

most recipe sites fall into two camps: either they’re cluttered with ads and popups, or they’re so minimal they feel lifeless. i wanted something in between.

inspiration from arc browser

the arc browser has this beautiful approach to ui design - subtle gradients, frosted glass effects, and generous whitespace. it feels modern without being cold.

i borrowed a few ideas:

• light texture: a subtle noise pattern that adds warmth
• gradient backgrounds: soft color transitions instead of flat colors
• glass-like cards: slightly transparent elements with blur effects
• rounded edges: everything feels soft and approachable

before and after

check out the before:

and the after:

what’s next

i’m not sure about the buttons yet - they might need more contrast. but overall i’m happy with where it’s going. the next step is to apply this design language consistently across all pages.

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tomatovillage is one of my side projects. see what else i’m building.