♥ / Hidden Mirrors Game

A big thank you to Hidden Mirrors for sponsoring my blog this week.

Hidden Mirrors is a mobile game for and by people that don’t play mobile games. It’s visual, addictive and just the right amount of an 80s vibe.

The goal of the game is to fill the highlighted tiles, either one at a time, or by swiping to mirror everything you’ve filled already. The way the symmetries unfold appear deceptively simple, and it becomes a pleasant visualization exercise to predict how the inner shapes will interact.

Hidden Mirrors is free for a limited time. You can download it for Apple and Android. And, you can even win a free t-shirt if you beat the Pacifica levels!(They have given out 160 T-Shirts so far!)

♥ / Tea with Tekuno

A big thank you to Tekuno for sponsoring my blog this week.

Tekuno is a San Francisco tea company that works directly with producers to showcase the world of Japanese green teas (and matcha!). Their small team travels to Japan each year—COVID notwithstanding—to source teas based upon a simple philosophy: find teas that are expressive in aroma, flavor, and texture; choose teas that reshape how we think teas should taste; and seek small scale producers with whom they can have a close relationship. And if you need a tea recommendation, they’re always happy to help via email or Instagram DMs.

They also offer subscriptions and collaborate with local ceramicists if you’re looking for a thoughtful gift idea.

♥ / Choose Your Own Adventure in Graphic Design

A big thank you to Parsons at Open Campus for sponsoring my blog this week.

This Graphic and Digital Design certificate from Parsons gives you the flexibility of online classes plus the option of choosing your own electives.

First, the core classes build your confidence with software that employers are looking for, including Illustrator and Photoshop. Then choose from the recommended electives, such as Typography, or build your own elective track with classes in Graphic Design History, Print Production and Process, and more.

Online classes at Parsons have the same small class sizes and interaction with faculty that made the art-and-design school so popular. Several faculty members have worked in the industry and offer their insider tips in everything from the basic elements of graphic design — point, line, plane, texture, modularity, rhythm and balance — to the more abstract ideas such as aligning visuals with a client’s identity. Fall registration is now open. Enroll today!


(Interested in sponsoring a week of my blog and RSS feed, learn more here.)

♥ / Start Your Fashion Studies Online

A big thank you to Parsons at Open Campus for sponsoring my blog this week.

The fashion instruction that made Parsons world famous is now available online. The Parsons’ Fashion Design certificate covers design fundamentals — from color theory to flat sketching. Our online fashion classes offer small class sizes for closer faculty interaction, so you can actually get to know your professors and build your network. Whether you’re doodling dresses or looking to get your brand off the ground, this certificate is a great place to start.

The certificate consists of eight courses. Only certain classes are available online and they are filling up fast. Register today!


(Interested in sponsoring a week of my blog and RSS feed, learn more here.)

♥ / Create Apps and Websites Users Will Love

A big thank you to Parsons at Open Campus for sponsoring my blog this week.

Design websites that will keep people coming back for more with Parsons’ User Centered Design (UX/UI) certificate. This online curriculum is focused on how web users think and make decisions. Classes on research methods and usability testing cover how to keep the end-user in mind during every process of a website launch. Instructors and faculty practitioners keep up with the industry to bring you the latest tools and techniques so that you can build the kind of user satisfaction that drives consistent web traffic.

The certificate consists of five courses. Join us and get an edge on this growing industry! Registration for fall is now open.


(Interested in sponsoring a week of my blog and RSS feed, learn more here.)

♥ / Got an Eye for Interior Design?

A big thank you to Parsons at Open Campus for sponsoring my blog this week.

Have you been rearranging your furniture while stuck at home? Put that creative eye to good use with the Interior Design certificate at Parsons. Now online for the fall, this program offers experience in two- and three-dimensional drawing and sketching, hand drafting, and computer modeling.

Industry experts will walk you through everything from lighting, furniture arrangement, floor and wall treatments, to client psychology, so that you can plan your own creative solutions for interior spaces. The best part? You’ll actually have the chance to build connections with our small online class sizes and one-on-one interaction with faculty practitioners. Fall registration is open! Check out the certificate classes and enroll today.


(Interested in sponsoring a week of my blog and RSS feed, learn more here.)

♥ / Float

A big thank you to Float for sponsoring my blog this week.

The world’s top creative teams, including BuzzFeed and MetaLab, use Float to plan and track their team’s time.

Get a bird’s-eye view of your team’s availability and resource capacity to plan projects and schedule tasks confidently. Set custom work hours, add public holidays and time off, and schedule a status to let your team know where you’re working fromーthe home office (dining table), or the lake house!

Assigning tasks to resources is a breeze with an easy drag-and-drop interface, a variety of editing shortcuts, and a single, visual calendar that updates in real time.

Float integrates directly with your favorite tools, including Teamwork, Asana, Jira, Google Calendar, Outlook, and Slack. Try it free for 30 days.

♥ / Online Summer Design Camps created by MODA

Are your kids bored and missing their friends? Young designers can learn and make new friends online at the Museum of Design Atlanta’s live-instruction camps and after-school classes.

From Minecraft to skateboarding, video games to sustainability, and Animal Crossings to architecture, MODA’s got lots of ways to keep kids having fun while improving their STEM and design skills.

Check out the camps and after-school programs here.

♥ / blue nose creative

A big thank you to blue nose creative for sponsoring my blog this week.

blue nose creative is all about craft, creativity, and sharing. Our handmade quilts add color, personality, art, and warmth to spaces while our cards help you say something. . . happy birthday, thinking of you, or more seriously, condolences.

In our little corner of the creative space, we pour ourselves into the creations we share with the world. . . we hope you love them as much as we do! And from July 20-26, you can snag a quilted item or card (or both) for 25% off! Handmade quilted items are in the blue nose creative Etsy shop; handmade cards are in The Paper Frenchie Etsy shop.

♥ / Online Summer Design Camps created by MODA

This year, kids across the country are having a great time at camps created by MODA, the Museum of Design Atlanta. And they’re doing it while staying safe at home!

MODA’s week-long summer camps cover topics like architecture, Minecraft, robotics, coding, game design, sustainability, AR/VR, Roblox, and even pinball.

Each online camp includes a structured schedule to balance live instruction with self-guided activities.

Check out the camps here.

♥ / Float

A big thank you to Float for sponsoring my blog this week.

Float is a resource management software built for agencies, studios, and firms. Plan for multiple projects on the go. Manage your team’s availability and time off. Keep track of who’s working on what, when, and from where—all in one place.

With Float you can see everything you need to know at a glance, to manage your team’s work schedule with confidence.

Sign up for a free 30 day trial at Float.com.

♥ / The Help You Need

A big thank you to Creatives Roundtable for sponsoring my blog this week.

The Creatives Roundtable (CR) offers virtual monthly support, accountability, and community for creative entrepreneurs, freelancers (brand new and established), and owners of small creative firms. Get the interaction and expertise you crave with the structure you need — from wherever you work, to take your business to the next level.

“As an entrepreneur, I spend so much time working IN my business that I forget to work ON my business. Not only do the meetings bring a new, and creative, perspective to my business, but they force me to improve by holding me accountable.” – Laura, CR member

What you get:
— Monthly accountability: 12, 1-hour moderated virtual meetings
— Expert Access: hear from industry guests and presenters
— Conversation and Community: private Facebook group for ongoing interaction
— Tools to Fuel: answers to questions, and recommendations about business process tools
— The Feedback you Need: monthly check-ins in-between your group meetings

Support and Structure
Run by a veteran designer with over 30 years of experience in her own creative business, the CR offers monthly meetings to help you grow your business, expand your expertise, and tackle your to-do-list. By sharing your experience with like-minded individuals, and getting direct mentorship and support, you’ll be able to set measurable and attainable goals and navigate challenging business situations like a pro!

Registration Deadline for the July 2020-June 2021 term closes May 29th
Limited spots, payment plans, and scholarships are available. Register today!

♥ / Graphic Design Just Got So Practical!

A big thank you to Parsons at Open Campus for sponsoring my blog this week.

Everything about summer is inspiring, making it the perfect season to achieve bigger professional goals. Parsons Open Campus is making it easier, with their top- tier catalogue of 100% online summer courses and certificate programs in multiple creative disciplines.

Master the extremely in-demand skill of graphic design when you enroll the Graphic and Digital Design Certificate, where you will:

– Strengthen your skills in typography, layout, and color theory, as well as your technical abilities in industry software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
– Learn under the guidance of our distinguished faculty, experienced practitioners in the field, and immerse yourself in a curriculum enriched by the vast resources of New York City
– Network with industry leaders and other creative peers
– Develop a well-curated portfolio for career advancement opportunities.
Registration for courses beginning in early June just opened! Get started now.


(Interested in sponsoring a week of my blog and RSS feed, learn more here.)

♥ / Master UX/UI Design Without Leaving Home

A big thank you to Parsons at Open Campus for sponsoring my blog this week.

Human behavior is an incredible phenomenon, and now you have the opportunity to build web experiences and digital products revolving around that. Parsons Open Campus, The New School’s home for continuing and professional education, offers an array of 100% online certificate programs to help you acquire skills that are in greater demand than ever before, including a certificate in User-Centered Design (UX/UI).

In this online program, you will:

– Become familiar with the UX design process, which begins with research and discovery and moves to concept and strategy brainstorming, then to prototyping, and finally to user testing
– Apply principles of human-centered design to increase users’ satisfaction and encourage interaction with systems, services, or products
– Learn how to design effective usability tests and conduct research surveys to gain the input and insights needed for successful product development
– Prototype software products (apps or websites), services, or physical products
– Build a portfolio to share with potential employers and clients

The program kicks off in June. Registration just began! Get started now.


(Interested in sponsoring a week of my blog and RSS feed, learn more here.)

♥ / Becoming a Professional Storyteller in the Digital Age

A big thank you to Parsons at Open Campus for sponsoring my blog this week.

With the unpredictable changes to your work day, more time at home means more opportunities to master new skills! That just became easier with Parsons Open Campus, The New School’s extension for continuing and professional education. This summer, you can bring your data to life with the Infographics and Data Visualization certificate, a noncredit program that will help you transform your data into beautiful visuals. The best part? It’s 100% online and super flexible!

During the program, you will:

– Learn how to strategize and adapt large quantities of data into a visual medium
– Enhance your skills in color theory, typography, design hierarchy, balance, symmetry, composition, and grid
– Draw upon elements of graphic design, statistics, and computer science to bring complex data to life
– Learn under the guidance of our distinguished faculty, experienced practitioners in the field.
– Develop a digital portfolio of data visualization projects that showcase your ability to perform in the contemporary Data Viz workplace

Navigating the world of data and design starts in June. Registration is open now! Get started here.


(Interested in sponsoring a week of my blog and RSS feed, learn more here.)

♥ / Float: Plan Your Team’s Time, From Anywhere

A big thank you to Float for sponsoring my blog this week.

For teams that have suddenly found themselves working apart, Float is a collaborative resource management tool to plan your projects and schedule tasks, in real time.

With Float you can:

– Visually plan your resources in an easy to use, drag-and-drop interface
– Manage your team capacity by setting custom work hours, schedule time off/public holidays, and set status updates to let everyone know who’s working from where
– Make changes on the fly with handy right-click shortcuts and powerful editing tools
– Notify your team of schedule updates via Slack, email, or mobile push notifications
– Add a project budget to forecast hours and monitor your team’s progress

Sign up for a free 30 day trial at Float.com.

♥ / 624 Peculiar Prompts to Keep you Occupied at Home

A big thank you to Peculiar Prompts for sponsoring my blog and RSS feed this week.

Looking for a way to stay busy while stuck alone at home? You’re in luck! Peculiar Prompts: Social Distancing Edition is a free collection of 624 creative prompts designed to break the rhythm of an otherwise mundane existence. All of these prompts are designed to be done from the safety of your home, and with materials that can easily be found in your immediate vicinity. Some of the prompts are weird, others are really weird. Here’s a quick taste of what’s inside:

1. Invent a yoga pose. Name it.
2. Take note of how many circular things there are in your home.
3. Stare at your palm. Sketch the 5 most distinct lines you see in your palm. Use these lines as the basis of a rough sketch of your next home.
4. Make a didgeridoo. Play it.
5. Wear socks on your hands for one hour.

These prompts are available for immediate download on a pay-what-you-want basis (that means you can get them for free!), but if you donate $5 or more, the authors will email you a crappy drawing of something special to you. Just donate $5 at checkout and they’ll reach out within 24 hours to get started on your special request.

♥ / Make It Remote: A Survival Guide for the Future of Work

A big thank you to Make it Remote for sponsoring my blog and RSS feed this week.


So you’re stuck working from home, and aren’t sure how to stay productive… You’re in luck: This is the toolkit for you. Make It Remote is written based on over a decade of experience managing remote teams. Download today!

Inside, you’ll find resources for both business leaders and team members, including:

– A comprehensive road map for implementing a remote working approach in your business.
– A step-by-step guide to creating your own remote work policy.
– Suggested tools and resources for working remotely.
– Tips and tricks for time management, remote meeting facilitation, and more!

Even better? For every download we get between now and April 5th, we’ll donate a meal to someone in need (up to 10,000 meals in total!). ALSO (!) if you do choose to donate when you download, we’ll share 50% of the proceeds with food banks and organizations focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Finally, we also have a special edition for teachers and students! If that is you, check out the toolkit here.

♥ / Make It Remote: A Survival Guide for the Future of Work

A big thank you to Make it Remote for sponsoring my blog and RSS feed this week.

So you’re stuck working from home, and aren’t sure how to stay productive… You’re in luck: This is the toolkit for you. Make It Remote is written based on over a decade of experience managing remote teams. Download today!

Inside, you’ll find resources for both business leaders and team members, including:

– A comprehensive road map for implementing a remote working approach in your business.
– A step-by-step guide to creating your own remote work policy.
– Suggested tools and resources for working remotely.
– Tips and tricks for time management, remote meeting facilitation, and more!

Even better? For every download we get between now and April 5th, we’ll donate a meal to someone in need (up to 10,000 meals in total!). ALSO (!) if you do choose to donate when you download, we’ll share 50% of the proceeds with food banks and organizations focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Finally, we also have a special edition for teachers and students! If that is you, check out the toolkit here.

♥ / Organize Your Inbox (and Never Waste Time on Email Again) With SaneBox

A big thank you to SaneBox for sponsoring my blog, RSS feed and newsletter this week.

Clean up your inbox today and keep it that way forever. SaneBox uses personalized algorithms to quickly learn your email habits and show your most important messages first, while filtering out the noise. Best of all, it works wherever you check email, on all clients and devices.

Get started today with this coupon: sanebox.com/swissmiss for a free 2-week trial (no CC required) plus an extra $25 towards your subscription!

ps: I personally use and *love* SaneBox!

♥ / The Lower Manhattan Explorer in Chief Summer Dream Job Contest

A big thank you to The Alliance of Downtown New York for sponsoring my blog, RSS feed and newsletter this week.

The Alliance of Downtown New York is searching nationwide for an urban explorer to live rent-free just off Wall Street all summer long and get paid to show the world Lower Manhattan through their eyes.

Ideal applicants will have a camera-ready personality, a keen eye, a distinctive voice and the chops to produce compelling, entertaining content. They’ll be someone who is charismatic and comfortable as the center of attention but who knows that the location is, ultimately, the star.

Show them what you got in 60 seconds or less: Are you cut out to be Lower Manhattan’s Explorer In Chief? Enter today.

♥ / Float

A big thank you to Float for sponsoring my blog this week.

Built by creatives, for creatives, Float makes resource planning simple — like it should be!

The world’s top agencies, studios, and firms use Float to plan their projects and schedule their team’s time, all in one place. Schedule tasks with an easy drag-and-drop interface, make changes on the fly with a variety of editing tools, and stay up to date on the go using the mobile app.

Float saves your team time, so you can get back to doing what you love!

Try out a free 30 day trial here.

♥ / Grow Your Brand’s Relevance in the Digital Age

A big thank you to Parsons at Open Campus for sponsoring my blog this week.

Gaining awareness and engaging with your audience in a captivating, authentic way is essential for the growth of your brand. But with so much content everywhere, how do you cut through the noise to ensure your message is heard?

Learn the techniques, tools, and strategic insights for differentiating and promoting your business with the Digital Marketing Certificate offered through Open Campus at The New School. In this series of five online courses, you will:

– Work with faculty and peers in five courses that will help you plan for and develop a real digital marketing campaign and strategy
– Explore the evolution of digital marketing and the way elements such as strategy, channels, and platforms interconnect
– Learn how to apply a value proposition, identify and analyze brand attributes, and conduct a SWOT analysis for a brand, product, or service of your choosing
– Tap into the enormous potential of social media to elevate your brand and business
– Explore the roles of digital, mobile, and native marketing and the way they all come together to form a campaign
– Examine the progression of a marketing plan, from brief to channel selection to projection of ROI, and apply this expertise to your brand and business

Get started now>>

♥ / Unlock Your Leadership Potential Through Design

A big thank you to Parsons at Open Campus for sponsoring my blog this week.

When we think of design, we often associate it with commercial endeavors: a company logo, a product, a website, or even a building’s layout. But design can also be used as a powerful tool for bringing about forces of change in organizations and in society at large. As the definition of design expands to encompass new human-centered strategies for problem-solving, “design thinking” has become an in-demand skill for thriving in today’s global economy.

With the Design Leadership for Business Certificate offered by Parsons at Open Campus, you can lead innovation in your organization and implement creative strategies, all in the context of design. In this five-course online program, you will:

– Gain actionable insights to apply design thinking to your own professional field or discipline
– Benefit from mentorship and direction from instructors who are strategists, entrepreneurs, and design thinkers with years of experience working across industries, from consulting to technology
– Develop the forecasting skills to simulate and strategically plan for the future
– Acquire interview and observation techniques that guide the design thinking process
– Undertake hands-on projects to prototype solutions that will yield real outcomes you can utilize right away

Get started now >>


(Interested in sponsoring a week of my RSS feed, learn more here.)