Don’t Panic

For the last ten years, I’ve been using the same image for my phone’s lock screen / wallpaper. I made it over winter break while I was in grad school, so, coincidentally, this is just about ten years to the day since I made the wallpaper.

“Don’t Panic” rendered like a glossy sticker in round pink letters against a blue background
My original “Don’t Panic” wallpaper.

I had just learned how to create that glossy sticker effect from my friend, Bill Liu, during our final project for Interaction Design Fundamentals, so I decided to put it to use one night in homage to Douglas Adams. I believe the font I used was Sniglet.

This week, I decided it was about time to come up with some new wallpapers that were sized for my current phone using a font I purchased last year specifically for this purpose: Salbabida Sans by Jo Malinis.

I came up with a few variations. I created a lock screen background for each that features the phrase in pink (just like the real Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and a wallpaper version that is lower contrast to avoid clashing with widgets and application icons on your home screen.

I’m currently using the “glow” variant, although I also quite like the “repeat” variant. You’re welcome to download them and use them on your phone, if you like, just please don’t make an NFT of them.

“Don’t Panic“ repeated with no whitespace, the phrase is highlighted once in pink “Don’t Panic“ repeated with no whitespace with little contrast against the background
“Repeat” variant. Full-size “Repeat” lockscreen. Full-size “Repeat” wallpaper.
The nine letters of the phrase “Don’t Panic” arranged in a 3×3 grid in pink The nine letters of the phrase “Don’t Panic” arraned in a 3×3 grid with low contrast against the background
“Grid” variant. Full-size “Grid” lockscreen. Full-size “Grid” wallpaper.
The phrase “Don’t Panic” in glowing pink letters, like a neon sign The background from the glow lock screen with no lettering
“Glow” variant. Full-size “Glow” lockscreen. Full-size “Glow” wallpaper.