Exploring New Worlds: March Desktop Wallpapers, Challenge and The Winner

11 min read
Graphics, Templates, Wallpapers
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Cosima has been an editor at SmashingMag since 2013. Whenever she’s not writing articles for the weekly Smashing Newsletter, she’s probably working on a … More about Cosima ↬

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For the March 2018 desktop wallpapers, we wanted to try something different. That’s why we started a little creativity challenge and asked the community to design wallpapers around the theme “Exploring New Worlds.” Today, Cosima Mielke is happy to present the result of this creative experiment, and the lucky winner, too, of course. Here are the results.

Everybody’s an artist. That was the idea behind the Smashing Creativity Challenge which we announced at the beginning of the month. We asked the community to get their creative ideas flowing, and design a desktop wallpaper for March 2018. The only requirement: The wallpaper had to somehow relate to the theme “Exploring New Worlds”. How? Well, only your imagination was the limit.

Today, we are happy to present the result of this creative experiment, and the lucky winner, too, of course. So let’s get ready to explore new worlds — be it the great unknown, the little adventures that inspire us every day, and even our own minds.

By the way, if you’re up for a creative challenge, too, we’ve got a new one coming up (plus a smashing prize to win) for April. More on that, at the end of this post.

Sneak a peek behind the scenes

Igor Izhik shows how he approaches all stages of designing a desktop wallpaper. Valuable tips for creating vector illustrations guaranteed. Curious? →

And The Winner Is …

Let’s Get Outside!

Lívia Lénárt from Hungary designed a wallpaper that reminds us to get outside and seize the beginning of Spring. Who knows what adventures might await us there?

Download Lívia’s wallpaper:

with calendar: 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1600x1200, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440
without calendar: 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1600x1200, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440

Congratulations, Lívia! You won a Wacom Intuos Pro tablet (medium size). Enjoy! We’d love to see what it will inspire you to bring to life — perhaps we’ll see it in a future wallpapers post?

More Submissions

A big Thank You to everyone who participated. It was great to see the theme come to life in so many unique ways. Keep up the brilliant work!

Exploring New Worlds Through Books

“For me, every book has a new world in it. Whether it is a fairytale or thriller storybook, they always take us into a new world where we can explore new things, meet new peoples and witness a new story every time.” — Designed by Suman Sil from India.

preview
with calendar: 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440
without calendar: 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440

Greetings From Mars

“I was inspired to create this artwork by space and planet Mars, and by the fact that the name of the month March comes from the Latin word ‘Martius’. It was named after Mars, the Roman god. The main character is a cat that lands on planet Mars and conquers it, the colors are predominant reds and browns with a contrast of light green. I played with texture and composition and of course I enjoyed designing the main character, an Astro-cat ready to explore the new world.” — Designed by Inna Alexandra Marculescu from Romania.

preview
with calendar: 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
without calendar: 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

Peaceful Wave

“‘Exploring New Worlds’ made me think that if we could reinvent ourselves with a goal of peace and sharing - that would be an exciting place to live.” — Designed by Lora Eggleston from NC, USA.

preview
with calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x1366, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1440x1050, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x1366, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1440x1050, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

Knowledge

“Exploring new worlds is much like exploring your own mind, creativity and knowledge. The only way to learn what’s really inside you is by trying something new. The illustration is my very own vision of the knowledge. It’s placed in some mysterious habitat. It’s a space where people learn from each other, find new talents and study their own limits.” — Designed by Julia Wójcik from Poland.

preview
with calendar: 320x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1440x1050, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 3840x2160
without calendar: 320x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1440x1050, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 3840x2160

City Upon The Hill

“A defeated medieval knight arrives at a serene valley after a long onerous journey through forestlands and hills. A city upon a hill, glimmering in the dark of the night emerges in front of him. He realizes that his journey has finally come to an end.” — Designed by Dipanjan Karmakar from India.

preview
with calendar: 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1080
without calendar: 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1080

Starman

“We wanted to pay homage to Starman who entered the Earth’s orbit in February. We truly hope to see it on Mars some day, so we made this graphic to visualize what it would be like up there.” — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.

preview
with calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

Sending FriendShips To March

preview
with calendar: 800x600, 1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
without calendar: 800x600, 1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

Galaxy Glimpse

“For the ‘Exploring New Worlds’ theme I thought about Earth being a potential new planet to other worlds, so this is a little galaxy glimpse of an explorer from a different world.” — Designed by Kate Carlin from Australia.

preview
with calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1080x1920, 1366x768, 1600x1200, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1080x1920, 1366x768, 1600x1200, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

Underexplored

“My mind went toward an imaginary world underwater when I thought of Exploring New Worlds. We often dream about exploring space or other planets, but it seems there is still much to discover here on Earth.” — Designed by Paul Cushing from Boise, Idaho.

preview
with calendar: 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
without calendar: 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

Imagine

preview
with calendar: 640x480, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
without calendar: 640x480, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

Passport

“March brings the will to travel and with it comes the will (or need) to explore new worlds, new cultures, and even new challenges.” — Designed by Diana Lima from Portugal.

preview
with calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

The Unknown

“As the theme you’ve proposed says ‘Exploring New Worlds’, I made here a connection, between the dark side and the unknown lighted and catchy area.” — Designed by Valentin Keleti from Romania.

preview
with calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

Bicycles

“I am very fond of bicycles. This graffiti reminds me of my childhood during the 80’s and the begining of the 90’s when I loved to take a ride on my bicycle during the sunny days and sing my favorite song: ‘Wonderful Life’ from Black. Today when I ride the bicycle I always get that feeling of exploring the unknown: new day, sky, trees, streets, oh there is a new cat on the roof. Cheers!” — Designed by Marija Zaric from Belgrade, Serbia.

preview
with calendar: 800x450, 1280x720, 1366x768, 1440x810, 1600x900, 1680x945, 1920x1080, 2560x1440
without calendar: 800x450, 1280x720, 1366x768, 1440x810, 1600x900, 1680x945, 1920x1080, 2560x1440

Search For Life On Planet Red

“Exploring New Worlds: It’s a race to find life beyond our planet Earth. Is Planet Red (Mars) our next destination? Let’s come and join hands to find our new world.” — Designed by Debobrata Debnath from India.

preview
with calendar: 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1440x1050, 1680x1050, 1920x1080
without calendar: 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1440x1050, 1680x1050, 1920x1080

Sun Temple

“In March, the world awakes from its intense sleep and the first sun rays say us hello. They warm our souls with their playful joy. Let each of us rediscover the Sun Temple within ourselves, and our lives to become a joyful sunny day, regardless of the weather outside.” — Designed by Viktor Mazhlekov from Bulgaria.

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with calendar: 1280x720, 1280x800, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440, 2560x1600
without calendar: 1280x720, 1280x800, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440, 2560x1600

Explore The Forest

“This month, I want to go to the woods and explore my new world in sunny weather.” — Designed by Zi-Cing Hong from Taiwan.

preview
with calendar: 1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
without calendar: 1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

A New World

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with calendar: 320x480, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1980x1200, 2560x1440
without calendar: 320x480, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1980x1200, 2560x1440

The Great Beyond

“My inspiration came mostly from ‘The Greay from’. It’s about a dog and an astronaut exploring a strange new world.” — Designed by Lars Pauwels from Belgium.

preview
with calendar: 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440
without calendar: 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

Explore The Far East

“March is a big month in Japan as it commemorates the start of Spring, new life, and blooming wild cherries. I have picked Japan as it’s the destination I always wanted to go to and explore their culture. Thus when reading the ‘Never Stop Exploring’ quote, I couldn’t think of anything else but this.” — Designed by Sara Galova from Portugal.

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with calendar: 1024x768, 1280x800, 2880x1800
without calendar: 1024x768, 1280x800, 2880x1800

Live To The Fullest

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste it, to experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. #ExploringNewWorlds” — Designed by Dekko Digital from India.

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with calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1280x720, 1366x768, 1920x1080, 2560x1440
without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1280x720, 1366x768, 1920x1080, 2560x1440

Join The Challenge!

Feeling inspired? Well, now’s your chance to get creative and feature your artwork on Smashing Magazine.

We’ve got a new challenge for you, and there’s a smashing prize waiting for one lucky winner!

"Design a desktop wallpaper in which you illustrate your favorite song. Once again, what you make out of it, is entirely up to you. There’s only one requirement: Please don’t simply write down the lyrics. Instead, show us what the song is about, what images arise in your head when you listen to it, what it means to you, how it makes you feel. Is it loud and bold, full of energy, or calm and relaxing? Show us!"

The deadline is Monday, March 26th, 2018.

Please be sure to read the following guidelines carefully before you get started (we’ve also collected them in a PDF for you).

Submission Guidelines

Please design two versions of your wallpaper. One with and one without a calendar for April 2018. This way, your wallpaper remains useful even after the month has ended. The calendar should be in English.
Make sure the wallpaper contains a Smashing Magazine logo. You can download different versions of the logo at https://smashed.by/logos. Oh, and please feel free to include your own logo in it, too, if you want.
Submit your design in as many different screen resolutions as you can, so that as many readers as possible can enjoy your artwork on their desktops.
Name your files according to their resolutions and their formats (e.g., 1280x720.jpg or 1280x720.png), and save them in two separate folders named “cal” and “nocal”.
Fill in the form. It will generate a file which you need to send us together with your artwork.
You’re almost there: Pack your “cal” and “nocal” folders as well as the generated form file into an archive (preferably .zip).

Once you’ve bundled everything up, send us your package to the following address: wallpapers@smashingmagazine.com. If your ZIP is too large to send via email, please don’t hesitate to provide us with a Dropbox or Google Drive link instead.

The deadline is Monday, March 26th, 2018.

What You Can Win

After the deadline has ended, we’ll award a SmashingConf ticket of your choice to one lucky winner: It’s up to you to decide if you’d like to go to SmashingConf San Francisco (April 17th—18th) or SmashingConf Toronto (June 26th–27th). Good luck!

SmashingConf San Francisco — Design a wallpaper about your favorite song and win a ticket to one of our upcoming SmashingConfs.

Sounds good? We’d love to see what you’ll come up with. Happy designing!

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with us anytime.