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Nov 19 • 16 tweets • 8 min read
Master design and you have a superpower.

Sadly, most people don't know where to start.

Here are 13 free tools to make you design like a pro:
#1: Create website mockups with Screely.

screely.com

• Take a simple screenshot
• Upload it
• It makes it look amazing
• Download it

The end.

What's not to love?
#2: Get stunning gradients with Ingradients.

Get beautiful gradients without having to do the hard work.

ingradients.net

• Browse the collection
• Edit if needed
• Download and use
#3: Find images of devices with Designs by Meta.

Need particular devices to use in your designs?

design.facebook.com has them all

• Smartwatches
• Computers
• Mobiles

Every brand you need for your own mockup.
#4: Get that job interview with Resume.

The days of a basic Word Doc for your resume should be long gone.

resume.io

Stand out from the crowd:

• Get wording suggestions
• Easy design options
• Save versions

A simple way to optimize your success.
#5: Get abstract shapes with Lost Geometry.

Want your designs to stand out?

lostgeometry.xyz

Amazing range of eye-catching 3d objects.

Will add flare to any design.
#6: Get writing inspiration with Microcopy.

Running out of copy inspiration?

microcopy.me

• Slogans
• Headlines
• Error messages
• User notifications

Just copy the text, and use it yourself.
#7: Find company colors with BrandColors.

Love the colors another Brand uses?

Now you can find it.

brandcolors.net

• Search for a brand
• View their color codes
• Copy to use them
#8: Get a color scheme with Coolors.

Most of us don't have a degree in Color Theory.

Now you don't need one.

coolors.co

• Explore palettes
• Check for contrast
• Lock in specific colors
• Pick colors from images

Use eye-catching palettes.
#9: Get unique icons with Feather.

Want to add custom icons to your designs?

feathericons.com

• Search
• Customize color
• Adjust the size
• Download

Hundreds of beautiful open-source icons.
#10: Get stock photos with Unsplash.

Sick of grainy images in the wrong size?

unsplash.com

Make it a thing of the past:

• Browse
• Choose the size you need
• Download
#11: Find fonts you like with Fonts Ninja.

Want to work out which fonts a specific website uses?

fonts.ninja

A browser extension that allows you to identify any font.

• Go to the website
• Click the extension

It'll tell you what fonts are used on that site.
#12: Collaborate with Frame.

Fed up going back + forth with video changes?

With frame.io you don't need to:

• Add comments

• Specify timing
• Organize versions
• Keep track of reviews

Can't recommend this enough.
#13: Get inspiration from Bestfolios.

Stuck for design ideas?

Check out bestfolios.com

• Browse portfolio websites to get your inspiration.
• See other similar designs.
• Soon you'll be back in your flow.
TL;DR 13 tools so you can design like a pro:

#1: Screely
#2: Ingradients
#3: Devices by Meta
#4: Resume
#5: Lost Geometry
#6: Microcopy
#7: BrandColors
#8: Coolors
#9: Feather
#10: Unsplash
#11: Fonts Ninja
#12: Frame
#13: Bestfolios
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More from @TessaRDavis

Tessa Davis Profile picture
Nov 20
Most people's presentations are boring and they have terrible slides.

The audience simply loses interest.

These 7 simple steps will take your presentation to the next level:
#1: Don't mistake slides for accessibility.

Contrary to popular belief, your slides don't make your presentation accessible.

• Record it
• Offer handouts
• Use audio loops
• Have live captions

Assuming that accessibility = slides is a fast track to a mediocre presentation.
#2: Don't confuse your slides with your notes.

I'm not saying you shouldn't feel nervous.

I'm just saying, don't use your slides as a crutch.

If you need notes, print out some and hold them in your hand.

Slides are for the audience, not to make YOU feel less stressed.
Read 10 tweets
Tessa Davis Profile picture
Nov 8
The single trait that holds most of us back:

Overthinking.

10 cognitive biases you need to know so you can think clearly:
#1: The spotlight effect.

As humans, we believe we are being thought of more than we are.

We tend to think others judge us constantly.

This holds us back.

In reality people are more worried about themselves and don't have time to think about you.
#2: The emotional seesaw effect.

Some days you feel you're a legend in your field.

On other days you feel inadequate.

When you let your emotions overwhelm you, it stops you thinking clearly.

When you feel strong emotions, remind yourself that it will pass.
Read 13 tweets
Tessa Davis Profile picture
Oct 30
Most people suck at running meetings.

They run over time, the same people talk, + nothing gets decided.

Here are 10 simple steps to run effective meetings:
#1: Check the meeting is actually needed.

Before you gather everyone together ask:

Could we do this asynchronously?

• Emails
• Chat threads
• Direct reports

Not every decision needs a meeting.
#2: Work out who needs to be there.

It's easy to invite 30 people to a meeting.

But it's super inefficient:

• More wasted time
• Less efficiency
• More stress

Instead ask:

Who really needs to be here to add value?
Read 13 tweets
Tessa Davis Profile picture
Oct 27
10 must-know Japanese concepts that will improve your life:
#1: Oubaitori.

Never compare yourself.

Everyone blossoms in their own time in different ways.

Don't judge yourself by someone else's path.
#2: Kaizen.

Continuously improve.

Constantly strive to improve across all areas of your life.

Small changes accumulate and make all the difference.
Read 12 tweets
Tessa Davis Profile picture
Oct 25
A mind-blowing slide deck will accelerate your career.

But a dull presentation will hold you back.

Here are 10 dead-simple ways to improve your slides today:
#1: Don't start your prep with slide creation.

Make your slides the LAST stage of your prep.

Start with:

• Your audience
• Your story arc
• Your content

Once that’s done THEN think about where slides add value.
#2: Use fewer slides.

If you have 50 slides for a 30-minute talk, you’ve gone overboard.

Less than one slide per minute is a guide.

But if you've prepped your content well, you'll probably only need a few.
Read 13 tweets
Tessa Davis Profile picture
Oct 16
9 Google Drive tips you'll wish you already knew:
#1: Extract the text from an image.

Need to copy text from an image?

• Right click on the image
• Choose 'Open with GoogleDocs'
• See your text

You can also search in Drive and it'll find the text in your image.
#2: Use your shortcuts.

Want to rename a file or share it quickly?

Use the keyboard shortcuts:

Click to select the file and:

• press N to rename instantly
• press . to share

Instantly save time.
Read 12 tweets

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