Design Resources
Great tools and resources can literally be life-changing to your workflow and skills. These are some of the best tools and resources I use. Check them out!
Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk. If you click the link and make a purchase, I receive a small compensation at no cost to you. Purchasing through these links is totally optional but helps me out!
Design Tools
Canva*
I use Canva to create quick mockups, social media graphics, and to search for stock photos and vector elements. It won’t replace an expert app like Adobe Illustrator or Figma, but for the beginning designer it’s an amazing tool to practice.
Flaticon
An incredible resource for finding free or premium icon packs. They offer many different styles to use in your designs, from linear to flat color. I can always find an icon set that suits the vibe of my design.
Unsplash
High quality, royalty free, 100% fair use stock photos. It’s my first and usually last stop for projects that require me to source images because I can find something beautiful, artistic, and unique.
Color Tools
Color Hex
Color selection can be intimidating — after all, you have the entire rainbow to pick from — and I often turn to Color Hex for inspiration. Find hex codes, color models, and more. Color Hex shows tints and shades of each color, plus it generates palettes and previews for you.
Color Supply Color Picker
Another tool for finding color palettes. This is an interactive tool that helps you mix and match different colors to see what works best together.
Browser Extensions for Designers
Squarespace ID Finder
Finds the ID of blocks on Squarespace pages to use with custom CSS tweaks. An incredibly useful tool for any Squarespace designer! Much faster than using the Inspect Element function.
Whatfont
Ever look at a website and think to yourself What font is that? This is a handy little tool that will give you the answers you so crave.
ColorZilla
An extension for Chrome that works as a virtual eyedropper. I use this tool constantly because I’m always finding colors in images or websites online that inspire me. ColorZilla lets me find the hex code for any color with just a few clicks.
Editing Resources
Onelook
The only online dictionary and thesaurus I use. Onelook searches tons of different online dictionaries so you can compare and contrast definitions and examples. Perfect for looking up related terms with their reverse dictionary.
LanguageTool
My preferred proofreading tool. LanguageTool’s online interface and robust privacy policy protects your information from being logged, which is not the case for all proofreading software. You can even download the desktop version which does not require use of the internet at all.
Purdue Online Writing Lab
Provides a wealth of writing instruction as well as a compendium of resource and reference information. Find anything from grammar guides to research methods and a database of all major academic citation styles.
Ulysses
A focused writing app for Mac and iOS with built-in document management and exporting options. It has a clean, beautiful interface. I use Ulysses for all of my short-form composition and it keeps my files organized while eliminating distractions. It has an easy-to-use backup system so my work is always safe, plus goal-setting and markdown formatting, and has a built-in proofreading tool that uses LanguageTool’s API.
Scrivener
Scrivener is invaluable for anyone doing long-form writing and research. It’s a heavy-duty writing app perfect for writing novels, dissertations, screenplays, and other long-form projects that entail lots of organization. It keeps all of my notes, research, and reference material close at hand. It’s a hugely powerful tool with way more functionality than I could begin to describe here!
Evernote*
A note-taking and writing app. Evernote is great because it has a web app as as well as apps for desktop and mobile. You can jot anything down and use any computer to access your data. Plus there are many useful templates that you can customize to your needs.
Business Tools and Freelancer Resources
bonsai*
Bonsai handles proposals, contracts, invoicing, expense and time tracking, and payments for freelancers. I love their easy-to-navigate interface and secure payment processing. Plus their contracts are fully customizable and make it so easy to get started with new clients.
Acuity Scheduling
Make booking clients a breeze. Acuity, now owned by Squarespace, lets you set up your own custom booking system. It’s perfect for service providers like massage therapists, coaches, instructors booking classes, and anyone who needs a simple solution for finding a time to connect with clients. Squarespace Scheduling and Acuity use the same interface, but the former is recommended if you use Squarespace already for your website.
Notion
A digital workspace that combines notes and planning, project management, a calendar, and a wiki system. Incredibly flexible to suit many different needs. You can drop reference material right into your documents, assign tasks to create a seamless workflow, and even create a virtual kanban board.
Moo*
High quality but affordable printing for business cards, stickers, flyers, rack cards, and custom stationery. They have stylish templates or you can easily upload a custom design. Plus, they have tons of paper options to choose from, including business cards made from recycled t-shirt offcuts, which is what I use myself. P.S. If you make a purchase through my link, you get 25% off your order.
Whereby
An install-free video conferencing app and a great alternative to Zoom. They have a beautifully designed interface and take your privacy seriously.
The Bullet Journal System
My preferred analog system for planning, brainstorming, and using my creative skills. The bullet journal system is flexible and endlessly useful. I’ve been bullet journaling for six years, and in that time it’s revitalized my relationship with productivity and organization. If you’re interested in what my creative and functional journal looks like, check out my instagram!