OMG! My simple to-do app TeuxDeux is featured on Ellen DeGeneres’ Instagram account with over 77M followers. I am dead.
Design Questions Library
The Design Questions Library is part of d.school’s recently launched “Public Library“, a digital collection built to help you go beyond the basics and dive deeper into the nuances of design. Can’t wait to see what else they’ll be adding.
Marie Kondo Your Twitter Feed
This site allows you to go Marie Kondo on the accounts you follow on Twitter. It guides you through them, one by one, and asks you; is what they are sharing sparking joy? Insightful exercise. (And, of course, I kept following Liz Danzico)
Letterlist
Letterlist allows you to find newsletters based on your interests. I signed up for a few new ones.
Speechify: Audiobook Anything
This app just took my breath away: Speechify let’s you turn anything into an audiobook – readings for school, reports for work, PDFs on your computer, articles online, physical books. This way you can listen while doing other things like driving, cooking, or at the gym.
Dimensions Guide
Dimensions.Guide is a (free) reference database of drawings documenting the standard measurements and sizes of everyday objects and spaces.
Transform your Handwriting into a Font
Calligraphr helps you transform your handwriting into a font: Fill out the form, get a handwritten font. Easy as that.
(via Chris)
The Noun Project
I am continuously amazed by The Noun Project: Search a database of over a million of royalty free icons. Such a delight!
8×10.co
8×10.co is a new, easy and intuitive way for artists to sell high quality, limited edition art prints, by simply posting to Instagram. No need to set up a separate online store. I am friends with the founders and was able to see sample prints: They are *impressive*! Overall the service is carefully crafted, intuitive and a pleasure to use. But the best part, they handle all of the shipping. Where has this service been all along? See how it works.
Directory of Tools and Resources for Illustrators
Oh, this made me look: Directory of tools and resources for illustrators. Via the always wonderful Chris Glass.
Anatomy Drawing Hack
Where was this when I was in art school trying to get a handle of life figure drawing?
Personal News: Introducing The CreativeGuild
I am ANXCITED over what I am about to share:
For nearly a decade CreativeMornings, an organization I started, has been bringing together people who are driven by passion and purpose, who support one another, and are collectively raising the bar on what it means to be creative.
Today, we’re launching the CreativeGuild where we will be translating our face-to-face community values to an online network for creatives. We like to think of it like LinkedIn, but for the creative world. .
This is something I wished existed 19 years ago, when I first moved to NYC and would Google ‘design studio NYC’ to find companies to apply to. All these years later, there is still no broad directory of creative companies, until now.
The CreativeGuild will start out as a global directory of creative companies and jobs but with an ambitious product roadmap ahead of us that will make it evolve into much more, a place for creatives to meet, that will open doors to new connections and opportunities. (The individual profiles will undergo a major upgrade next!)
Where other social networks are leaving me wanting more; more connection, more inspiration, more control over my data – we’re taking what we have learned with our face-to-face events and are aiming to create a more human experience.
What if, there was a place on the Internet that optimizes for opportunities instead of advertisements? An internet that is more interested in how you show up as a human, than how your data shows up in an algorithm? An internet that believed online experiences should feel more like face-to-face interactions?
I believe this version of the Internet can exist. Help me make it a reality.
are.na
I have just fallen into the biggest internet rabbit hole since ffffound. Please everyone, welcome Are.na, an online platform for collaborative research. Here’s how they boldly talk about themselves: “Think of it as a visual Slack, or Pinterest for smart people. It sits in a unique position between a productivity tool and social media platform. Launched as a side-project by a developer at Artsy, Are.na has gained significant traction amongst designers, programmers, academics, and agencies.” While the ‘smart people part’ might rub some people the wrong way, I am impressed by what they are building. It seems to be improving daily. Love seeing folks pulling their sleeves back, building a new platform by pouring their hearts into it, guided by a strong mission and values statement: I am impressed by their vision for 2018.
The Creative Independent
The Creative Independent is a resource of emotional and practical guidance for creative people. Published by Kickstarter. Love this.
(via Chris)
Email Charter
We would be all better off in our lives (and inboxes) if we all respected and followed these Email Charter rules.
(Yes, I wrote about this a LONG time ago!)
ConferCal
Ever think you want to attend a conference but you don’t know which one or you always find out after they are sold out or happened? The newly launched ConferCal can help!
George Heilmeier’s Method for Solving Research Challenges
Next time I have to break down a problem, I will remember George Heilmeier’s method for solving research challenges:
– What are you trying to do? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon.
– How is it done today, and what are the limits of current practice?
– What is new in your approach and why do you think it will be successful?
– Who cares? If you are successful, what difference will it make?
– What are the risks?
– How much will it cost?
– How long will it take?
– What are the mid-term and final “exams” to check for success?
(via John Maeda)
Happy Birthday TeuxDeux!
8 years ago today, I launched TeuxDeux together with Cameron and his FictiveKin Crew. It has been keeping me organized ever since.
TeuxDeux is a simple list-app and the closest you can get to a paper to-do list, digitally. I keep my TeuxDeux as the browser landing page on my computer, which means, every time I open a browser window I am being reminded what I should be focusing on. Whatever you don’t check off today, will automatically roll over to the next day. It’s delightfully simple. And in the ‘someday section’ below I keep lists like shopping, movies I want to watch, gift ideas for the kids, etc
Try it for free! And if you do, do me a favor and enable the flying cat in the settings. You’ll see!
Threadless Customization
I haven’t visited Threadless in a while and am amazed at their custom one-off printing offerings. From T-Shirts and Apparel to Home Decor and Accessories. I had no idea! Check it out!
(via Chris)
Laser Cats Stickers
My friend sent me an animated laser cat sticker this morning and it made me laugh out loud. It scanned the entire text message with its laser eyes. Hilarious!
Fighting Off Telemarketers
Jolly Roger are artificially intelligent bots that keep telemarketers on the line for as long as possible. Listen to this example. OMG!
Critical Edit Checks Before You Hit Publish
This article by Barry Davret is helpful if you do editing work: 10 Unusual But Critical Edit Checks Before You Hit Publish
(via)
My Favorite Interview Questions
When I talk to my friends who run companies or are in hiring positions, I usually ask them for their favorite interview question. Here are some of mine that I collected over the years:
– What do you know about us?
– What did you like about your last job? Why did you leave?
– Tell me something about yourself that I can’t find out on Google!
– Who do you admire?
– What’s a reason why I should not hire you?
– What do you do when you’re not working?
– What’s something you’re bad at that you really wish you were good at.
– What’s your favorite part of your current or previous job?
– What’s your secret superpower?
– When was the last time you wore a costume? And what was it?
– What’s the shittiest job you’ve ever had?
– What are you learning right now?
– How do you organize your closet?
– What would the title of your autobiography be?
– Tell me about some people you’ve helped in your career.
– I’m going to give you 5 minutes. Teach me something new. Anything!
– If I was to ask your friends 3 words to describe you what would they be?
– When is the last time you went out of your way to do something nice for someone?
– What are the biggest values you think your parents taught you?
– When is it okay to break the rules?
– What is an article or book you read recently that changed your mind about something?
– If you had a magic wand, what would you like to be know for?
– Give me a single sentence to tell our CEO about you when I see her later today.
– If you weren’t getting paid for what you do, would you still be doing it?
– How does this position relate to what you really want to be doing?
– What do you dream of?
– What is the thing that breaks your heart?
– What are you pretending you don’t know?
– What do you want?
Do you remember being asked an interesting interview question? What was it?
UPDATE: Inc.com featured 10 of my favorite interview questions after seeing this post.