RESOURCES
Tools & Resources for Designers, Entrepreneurs, and Small Businesses
The products and services below are some of my favorite resources and they are often the reason why I love my job as a designer and content creator. They simply make my work more enjoyable while producing even more beautiful results. Affiliate links are marked with an * below. If you click through and pay for a product, I’ll be compensated at no cost to you.
Notion*
This client management and communication system is a game-changer. Notion has streamlined the process of organizing my design business. It’s perfect for complex projects like a product launch or simple items like coordinating task lists and goals with team members. Notion makes it easy to gather all of the assets and information in one place. From there you can build a schedule and a timeline and then assign tasks. If you add more people to your network, Notion can expand with you. One of my favorite parts about Notion is it can be used for both work projects and personal projects. I have been using notion now for one year. This platform is fantastic for working with teams, and as I mentioned, you can organize your personal life here too. If you want to get started with Notion click on the link in the heading.
Apple 2022 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Wi-Fi, 128GB, 6th Generation*
I love everything about the iPad Pro series for creating designs with the Apple Pencil (2nd generation). This 12.9-inch gorgeous screen is my favorite because you can work on more complex projects without constantly resizing the designs for viewing. The liquid retina XDR is perfect for editing high-brightness and high-contrast content such as HDR photos and videos. The processor speed is mindblowing even with complicated graphics. The battery life is great too. It lasts and lasts even on those long days when you are constantly on the go without time to stop and refill the battery juice.
Apple Pencil (2nd Generation)*
I have used a variety of stylus models and the Apple Pencil 2nd Generation paired with the Ipad Pro offers the most natural drawing experience. When you start drawing or writing with the pencil you immediately notice that there is almost no lag. I love the pixel-perfect precision, with tilt and pressure sensitivity> Using this pencils makes it possible to create as if you were holding a real paintbrush, an ink pen, charcoal, or pen. Wanna make it feel even more like a sketchbook or a canvas? Check out my screen protector recommendation below.
PaperLike 2.1 (2 Pieces) for iPad Pro 12.9" (2020/21/22) *
Make your drawing and writing experience with an iPad Pro feel even more like a sketchbook or a canvas. Check out the PaperLike 2.1 Transparent Matte Screen Protector for Notetaking and Drawing—it makes using an Apple Pencil feel like it’s writing on paper. No more slippery surfaces causing your stylus to haphazardly race across the screen—all the while it preserves the gorgeous display. I must admit I was a bit nervous about applying this screen protector to my glossy screen. Never fear, PaperLike offers super easy step-by-step instructions even for a klutz like me. I completed the task without any problems and honestly a day later I still felt so proud that I showed off my handiwork to complete strangers at the coffee shop.
LaCie Rugged Mini 5TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD*
I don’t imagine I will ever pour my iced tea on this amazing hard drive, but it makes me feel better to know it has water resistance. Plus I can jam it into my backpack and it will survive some pretty tough circumstances like dropping it when I get out of the car or using my backpack as a seat cushion and sitting on it. Of course, the speed is ultra sweet when you need to transfer files in a hurry—that’s an everyday occurance—this portable hard drive seamlessly connects to USB 3.0 computers and transfers content lightning-fast with speeds of up to 130MB/s. I am already jamming way too much in my backpack or satchel so this is when size matters. Really and truly very portable, this hard drive lives up to its name as a super compact portable external hard drive with a massive capacity of up to 5TB. Maybe I should buy a second one.
Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M2 Pro chip with 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU*
This MacBook Pro laptop features a 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 16GB Unified Memory, and 1TB SSD Storage. I have an earlier MacBook version that I adore. And I have my eye on this newer model. Both are fast and reliable, and the display is perfect for design work.