Image credit: Procreate
Yesterday I found some hilarious memories digging through my old design books and work archives. The cringe factor was real but it was also such a tangible way to visualise my progress over the past decade.
The phrase “It’s only embarrassing if you’re embarrassed” came to mind, as I turned the pages of a small Field Notes book where I logged every new design thing I learned. There was InDesign shortcuts and step-by-step masking tutorials, old business cards and informational tidbits bestowed from former colleagues and forever mentors.
It made me wish I had continued this practice of celebrating every new thing through documentation. There is always something to be learned.
Don’t judge me, but I’ve since given up on physical notebooks. Sacrilege, I know! I always lose them or find it’s never handy when I need it. Another pro for going digital is being able to password protect your most embarrasing IP. If this sounds like you, some tools I love (and have likely shared before) are listed below.
Simplenote
Essentially a cleaner version of the Apple Notes app, but available on Android/Windows too. Syncs seamlessly across all devices and I love that I don’t have to worry about any formatting. The search feature is extra handy! I mainly use this for quick ideas, lists, and copy I’m not really sure what to do with yet.
Day One
If you’re looking for more of a traditional diary, Day One is something I’ve been journaling in very inconsistently for about 6 years. I always feel the need to plug Ian Haigh because he’s the OG spokesperson for Day One and should really be getting referral benefits at this point.
Procreate
Damn it, now I have to admit that I caved and bought an iPad—but I love using Procreate for sketching out rough ideas. It’s been a fun way to get back into drawing (no matter how bad) and learn a new software (no idea what I’m doing). FWIW, I know and acknowledge that I am but another cog in the Capitalist Machine and this is by no means an ecouragement to drop way too much money on another rectangle that will likely be obsolete in 2-3 years.
That’s all for this week! Here’s to cringing (or not!) over stuff I’ve written in another 10 years from now.
Gabby
Resource of the Week
A very easy way to get a quick overview of a font before having to install it. Drop a font and this site will tell you about the features and everything it can do. It will also give you all the CSS needed to actually use these features in your web projects. Neat! Everything is processed inside the browser so your font is not sent to a server.
Lucky Dip Links
Kulfi Beauty is a new cosmetics company founded on the value of celebrating the rich culture and beauty of South Asians. Love to see it designed by independent designer Badal Patel, proving once again that you don’t need a huge team to make a huge impact.
Curious about how remote work will change the world by 2030? There’s a few interesting predictions in here, but a line that really stood out to me and somewhat relates to the links shared above is, “Documentation is the unspoken superpower of remote teams. The most successful [remote] team members will be great writers.” Also lol at this Getty Image.
Candid Classifieds
Australia and California homeowners bushfire relief: Architect Christopher Solek can provide pro bono advice, special rate design, and planning approval services to those who have lost their homes or community assets.
You can submit a classifieds link here. Conditions apply.
All resources and links are shared purely because I think they are cool, interesting, or helpful. No content is sponsored unless explicitly stated. I am open to submissions but cannot promise they will be featured.
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Gabby Lord
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