Design Isn’t Just a Practice, It’s a Perspective

When people search "women in design" or "ladies design," they aren't just looking for portfolios. They're seeking proof that women are shaping the future of design and wondering how to find community, resources, and mentorship from other female creatives.

The answer is simple: We're already here. We've always been here.

From visual storytelling to strategic thinking, women in design aren't just executing ideas. We're redefining systems, blending aesthetics with activism, and now integrating emerging technologies like ChatGPT into our creative workflows without compromising our values.

This post explores why visibility matters for women designers, how AI tools fit into feminist creative practice, and where you can connect with other female creatives building the future of design.

Ladies Who Design: Beyond the Mood Board

Women have long used design as a tool for transformation—through branding, zines, digital art, and community-building. Yet despite our impact, we're often invisible in search results, design award lists, and industry conversations about "who designs the future."

That's why initiatives like Ladies Who Design exist: to reframe the question and make the answer visible.

✨ What “Ladies Design” Really Means:

• We design with care and intention.

• We bring cultural context into every composition.

• We never separate creativity from conscience.

Women designers approach projects differently because we understand that design decisions have real consequences for real people. Our work reflects that responsibility.

Looking to connect with more women creatives? Browse curated directories like Ladies Who Design and discover how women across disciplines are designing with purpose.

Why Women Designers Are Embracing ChatGPT (And How We’re Doing It Differently)

Curious about how AI fits into feminist or values-driven design? You’re not alone. Searches for “how to use ChatGPT for design strategy” are growing and for good reason.

💡 Here's how women in design are using ChatGPT strategically:

1. Cultural Research Without Eurocentric Bias
Instead of relying on design education that centers Western aesthetics, use ChatGPT to research visual traditions from marginalized communities. Ask it to compile information on Indigenous design practices, Afrofuturist color theory, or queer visual history—then verify sources and dig deeper.

2. Strategic Brainstorming That Respects Your Energy
From brand voice ideas to campaign taglines, ChatGPT can generate concept directions when you're stuck. This doesn't replace your creative judgment—it just means you're not starting from a blank page when your energy is already depleted by unpaid emotional labor.

3. Content Support That Reduces Imposter Syndrome
Whether it's About pages, project descriptions, or client proposals, ChatGPT reduces the anxiety of the blank page. Draft your ideas, let AI structure them, then edit in your voice. This is especially valuable for women who've been socialized to downplay their expertise.

4. SEO Strategy Without a Full Marketing Team
Generate keyword lists and blog outlines to boost your visibility without hiring expensive consultants. For many women designers running solo practices, this levels the playing field against agencies with full marketing budgets.

5. Boundary-Setting Communication
Use ChatGPT to draft professional emails about scope creep, late payments, or problematic client feedback. Women are often penalized for being "too direct" or "not collaborative enough"—AI can help you find language that's both firm and diplomatic.

📘 Dive deeper: How I Use ChatGPT for Creative Strategy

Why Visibility Matters for Women in Design

Despite thousands of monthly searches for "women in design" and "female designers," few resources consistently uplift the real stories, struggles, and strategies of women creatives.

This invisibility isn't accidental. It's the result of industry gatekeeping, algorithmic bias, and the reality that women—especially women of color, queer women, and disabled women—are systematically excluded from design history, awards, and speaker lineups.

You can help shift that:

• Share the work of women designers you admire on social media

• Use and follow hashtags like #LadiesWhoDesign, #WomenInDesign, #FeministDesign

• Recommend women for speaking opportunities, awards, and collaborations

• Build your own visibility through blogging, portfolio updates, and thought leadership

• Support platforms and communities that center women's voices in design

Every time you make your work visible through a Squarespace portfolio, a blog post, a case study, or a social media post, you're rewriting the answer to "who designs the future?"

👩‍💻 Final Thoughts: Building Community Over Competition

One of the most powerful things about women in design is how we show up for each other. Instead of scarcity mindset and competition, many of us are building networks of mutual support, skill-sharing, and collaboration.

Ways to connect with other women designers:

• Join directories like Ladies Who Design

• Participate in online communities focused on feminist design practice

• Attend virtual or local meetups for women creatives

• Share resources, tools, and opportunities with your network

• Mentor emerging designers who remind you of your younger self

Design doesn't have to be a lonely hustle. The more we connect, the stronger our collective impact becomes.

You Belong in the Design Conversation

Search engines don't always show the full picture of who's shaping design culture. But with every post, project, and platform we build, we rewrite that narrative.

Women in design are using AI tools strategically, centering cultural storytelling, building sustainable practices, and refusing to separate creativity from values. We're not waiting for permission to lead—we're already doing it.

Your next steps:

1. Update your Squarespace portfolio to reflect your current work and perspective

2. Experiment with one ChatGPT prompt from this post to see how AI tools can support (not replace) your creative process

3. Connect with at least one other woman designer this week—share resources, ask questions, build relationships

4. Make your work more visible through blogging, case studies, or social media

The future of design isn't coming. We're building it right now.

You Might Also Like:

10 Ways to Use ChatGPT for Design Efficiency

Top 6 Domestika Courses by Women Artists for Creativity

How Will Web3 Impact Designers and Artists?

The 1970s and 1980s were all about creating cozy, grounded interiors with personality. Think terracotta tones, exposed brick, conversation pits, and bold patterns. Homes from this era favored cozy materials and design that didn’t shy away from personality. Whether you’re updating a split-level Miami house in the suburbs or giving your New York City apartment loft a vintage twist, this era offers plenty of inspiration. And today, these retro elements are making a strong comeback—often reimagined in ways that feel fresh and timeless.

Read the full article here: 1970s Interior Design Ideas You’ll Want in Your Home Today | Redfin (Parent company of ApartmentGuide and Rent.)

A Time of Color, Culture, and Creative Freedom

The 70s and 80s weren’t just about aesthetics. They were about bold living. Homes during these decades became personal sanctuaries, brimming with individuality, cultural expression, and fearless creativity. These eras remind us that design is more than just décor. It’s a reflection of who we are.

Here’s exactly what Hayley Gilmore, founder of Ladies Who Design, shared in the Redfin feature:

My favorite part of 1970s–1980s design is the unapologetic use of bold colors and playful shapes. It gave interiors so much character and energy. I love bringing that vibe into modern spaces through curved furniture, rich wood tones, and a bold statement piece or fixture to keep it feeling intentional and not overdone.

Why Retro Design Is Still Relevant

Retro design isn’t just a fleeting trend either. It’s a meaningful renaissance. The 70s and 80s remind us to embrace spaces that are joyful, expressive, and deeply personal. These decades gave us earthy terracotta palettes, sculptural silhouettes, and playful patterns that still feel fresh today.

In modern spaces, retro design is being reimagined to blend nostalgia with clarity. Think bold wallpapers paired with minimalist lighting, vintage furniture styled with contemporary palettes, or sculptural pieces that anchor a room. It’s all about honoring the past while creating something uniquely your own.

Bringing the Retro Vibe Into Your Space

Feeling inspired? Here are a few ways to channel 70s and 80s design in a modern context:

• Layer in Meaningful Color: Rust, mustard, peach, and cobalt create a dynamic, nostalgic palette.

• Embrace Texture: Velvet chairs, shag rugs, and rattan shelving add warmth and depth.

• Play With Patterns: Memphis shapes, floral wallpaper, or checkerboard tile bring playful energy.

• Invest in Statement Furniture: Sculptural pieces, sunken seating, and vintage finds add character and charm.

Join the Conversation

Are you embracing retro design in your home, studio, or creative projects? What’s your favorite trend from the 70s or 80s? We’d love to hear how you’re bringing this bold and beautiful era into your space!

Tag us on Instagram at @ladieswhodesign to share your retro-inspired looks. Let’s keep the conversation (and creativity) going!

If you're a designer who cares about representation, cultural nuance, and building a practice that doesn't burn you out, you've probably wondered whether AI tools like ChatGPT have any place in your workflow.

Here's the truth: AI won't replace your perspective or creative instincts. But when used strategically, ChatGPT can handle the research, administrative work, and repetitive tasks that drain your energy—giving you more capacity for the design work that actually requires your unique point of view.

This guide shows you 10 practical ways feminist creatives are using AI tools, with examples specifically for designers focused on cultural storytelling, creative productivity, and community-centered work.

1. Research Cultural Context and Decolonize Your Design Process

Strong design requires understanding the cultural histories and power dynamics behind visual choices. ChatGPT can help you research color symbolism across cultures, historical design movements outside the Western canon, and contemporary voices in marginalized communities.

Instead of defaulting to Eurocentric design references, use AI tools to broaden your research foundation quickly.

Sample Prompt:
"Research visual storytelling traditions in Indigenous Mexican textile design. Include color meanings, pattern symbolism, and contemporary designers working in this tradition. Provide sources I can cite."

This gives you a starting point for culturally informed design decisions while centering voices often excluded from mainstream design education.

2. Write Proposals That Center Values and Community Impact

Feminist creatives often struggle to translate care work and community values into business language that wins clients. ChatGPT can help you draft proposals that clearly articulate your design process, emphasize collaborative approaches, and demonstrate social impact.

Sample Prompt:
"Write a brand design proposal for a reproductive health nonprofit led by Black women. Emphasize co-creation with community members, culturally specific visual language, and a timeline that allows for meaningful stakeholder input."

Edit the output to sound like you, but let the AI handle structuring your ideas into persuasive business documents.

3. Build Schedules That Actually Respect Your Energy

Creative productivity isn't about hustle culture. ChatGPT can help you design work schedules that account for rest, cyclical energy patterns, and the reality that care responsibilities don't disappear just because you have client deadlines.

Sample Prompt:
"Create a sustainable weekly schedule for a freelance designer managing three client projects while co-parenting and dealing with chronic illness. Include time blocks for focused creative work, rest days, and flexible buffer time for flare-ups."

You'll get a framework that treats your wellbeing as essential to your work, not an obstacle to productivity.

4. Generate Culturally Specific Design Directions

When pitching concepts to clients, ChatGPT can help you explore multiple creative directions that center specific cultural contexts. This is especially useful when you're designing for communities you're connected to but want to avoid leaning on stereotypes or your first instinct.

Sample Prompt:
"Generate five brand concept directions for a queer Latinx-owned bookstore in Los Angeles. Include visual themes, cultural references, color psychology, and tone of voice for each concept. Avoid rainbow capitalism and generic 'diverse' aesthetics."

Use this as a brainstorming springboard, not final creative direction. The value is in exploring options you might not have considered.

5. Analyze Your Business Model Through a Feminist Lens

ChatGPT can help you evaluate pricing strategies, service offerings, and business decisions through frameworks that prioritize sustainability over endless growth. Use AI tools to think critically about how capitalism shapes creative work.

Sample Prompt:
"Analyze the pros and cons of offering sliding scale pricing for brand design services. Consider financial sustainability, accessibility, client perception, and alternatives to traditional pricing models. Include examples from feminist businesses."

This helps you make values-aligned business decisions without sacrificing your ability to pay rent.

6. Troubleshoot Squarespace Design and Custom Code

If you're building your portfolio or client sites on Squarespace, ChatGPT can help you customize templates, fix CSS issues, and add interactive elements without hiring a developer for every small tweak.

Sample Prompt:
"Help me add custom CSS to my Squarespace 7.1 site that creates an accessible image gallery with keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility. Prioritize WCAG 2.1 AA standards."

This saves time and money while ensuring your web design practices are inclusive by default.

7. Draft Client Communications That Set Boundaries

Setting boundaries with clients is essential self-care, but it's also a skill many designers struggle with. ChatGPT can help you write emails that are both professional and firm about scope creep, late payments, or problematic feedback.

Sample Prompt:
"Draft a professional email to a client who keeps requesting revisions outside our contract scope. Explain boundaries clearly, reference our original agreement, and offer a paid revision package. Maintain a collaborative tone without being a pushover."

Edit for your voice, but use the AI to help you communicate boundaries without guilt or overexplaining.

8. Create Client Onboarding That Centers Consent and Collaboration

Feminist design practices emphasize collaboration over ego-driven creative control. Use ChatGPT to build onboarding materials that set expectations for co-creation, establish communication norms, and get meaningful input from stakeholders.

Sample Prompt:
"Create a client onboarding questionnaire for brand design projects that centers community input and cultural specificity. Include questions about values, visual preferences, community needs, and how success will be measured beyond aesthetics."

This helps you establish collaborative relationships from the start instead of positioning yourself as the expert who knows best.

9. Design Your Professional Development Around Your Values

The design industry constantly pushes new tools and trends. ChatGPT can help you curate learning paths focused on skills that align with your values rather than chasing whatever's most marketable.

Sample Prompt:
"Create a 6-month learning plan for a designer who wants to specialize in accessible design for disability justice organizations. Include courses, mentorship opportunities, and portfolio projects that demonstrate both technical skills and community accountability."

This keeps your skill development intentional and aligned with the work you actually want to be doing.

10. Write About Your Work in Ways That Attract Aligned Clients

Whether you're updating your Squarespace portfolio, writing case studies, or pitching your services, ChatGPT can help you articulate your design philosophy clearly. This is especially valuable when your approach centers marginalized communities or challenges industry norms.

Sample Prompt:
"Help me write an about page for my design portfolio that emphasizes decolonial design practices, accessibility as a baseline requirement, and my commitment to working primarily with BIPOC-led organizations. Sound professional but not corporate."

The output gives you a starting structure to refine into something that sounds authentically like you.

Using AI Tools Without Losing Your Voice

AI tools for feminist creatives aren't about automating creativity or replacing the cultural knowledge that makes your work meaningful. They're about reclaiming time and energy from tasks that don't require your unique perspective.

The most effective use of ChatGPT means staying critical about what you automate and what you don't. Research and administrative tasks? Automate strategically. Creative decisions rooted in lived experience and cultural context? That's still entirely yours.

Integrating ChatGPT into your design practice streamlines workflows and creates space for deeper creative thinking. Instead of spending hours on administrative tasks, you can focus on the cultural storytelling and community-centered work that actually requires your expertise.

Ready to go deeper? Domestika's course "Using ChatGPT for Work" offers structured training on maximizing AI tools for creative productivity. It covers advanced prompting techniques, workflow integration, and strategies specifically designed for visual creatives.

Start with one area where you consistently lose time—client communication, project planning, or cultural research—and experiment with using ChatGPT there. Pay attention to what actually helps versus what creates more work. Build your AI toolkit slowly, intentionally, and always in service of doing more meaningful creative work.

Your perspective matters. AI tools are just here to help you share it more widely.

Like what you see? Follow us on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok. Collab with us through Passionfroot. If you want to support our work, buy us a coffee or explore more courses with Domestika.

Our guide journeys through the allure of vintage fonts, sharing insights on their timeless appeal and practical tips for integrating them into modern projects with flair and precision.

The Enduring Appeal of Retro Typography in Modern Design

Retro typography is treasured in contemporary design for its timeless nature, versatility, and distinctive charm:

1. Timelessness: Vintage fonts infuse a sense of enduring style that stands the test of time and design trends.

2. Versatility: Whether on digital screens or printed paper, these fonts carry a sense of versatility that complements any medium.

3. Engagement: The distinctiveness of vintage fonts captures attention, enriching the audience's engagement with the content.

Selecting the Best Vintage Fonts for Your Project

The choice of vintage font can profoundly influence the feel and success of a project. Here's how to choose wisely:

Aligning Fonts with Your Project's Theme

Each font echoes the era it represents. A detailed serif may speak to luxury, while a sans-serif lends itself to a retro look. Select a font whose character harmonizes with your project for a seamless thematic design.

Detail and Contrast in Vintage Fonts

The charm of vintage fonts often lies in their unique details. Select fonts that strike a balance between these details and overall legibility, especially for smaller sizes or dense text.

The Art of Combining Fonts

Mixing vintage styles can add a dynamic layer to your designs. Don't hesitate to pair different fonts, like a serif with a sans-serif, to enrich the visual appeal.

Top Vintage Fonts to Enhance Your Designs

Here are some hand-picked vintage fonts that exemplify the spirit of retro design:

Lovadelic: Captures the exuberance of the 1970s with a fun and psychedelic twist.

Treasure Dreams: Perfect for playful designs, from stickers to posters that need a retro touch.

Malibu: A playful serif that's as versatile as it is stylish, fitting for personal branding and event designs.

Milkman: Blends vintage curves with modern flair, creating a unique, contemporary look.

Old Standard: Merges cursive flair with a sans-serif base, ideal for a personal, handwritten feel.

Reuben: Captures the essence of New York’s historic delis with its high contrast and bold stance, great for impactful branding.

How to Integrate Vintage Fonts into Your Designs

For optimal use of vintage fonts, keep these guidelines in mind:

• Contextual Harmony: Match the font with your design's overarching theme and message.

• Strategic Use: Apply vintage fonts with a purpose, avoiding an overcrowded design.

• Creative Experimentation: Mix and match fonts, sizes, and colors for a complex, engaging aesthetic.

Conclusion

Vintage fonts are a bridge to the past, offering designers a chance to sprinkle nostalgia, sophistication, and individuality into their projects. By thoughtful selection and application of these fonts, your designs will not only stand out but also strike a chord with your audience. The most impactful vintage font is one that not only suits the theme of your project but also enhances and captivates.

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TikTok isn't just for dance challenges anymore. It's become a diverse platform where artists showcase their talent, and finding your niche can be the key to standing out.

1. Why Every Artists Should Consider TikTok

To succeed on TikTok, it's crucial to identify and focus on your artistic niche. Determine what sets you apart and create content that revolves around your unique style. Whether it's lettering, painting, or sculpting, hone in on your niche and provide valuable tips, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and engaging tutorials to captivate your audience.

2. The Power of a Niche

A niche, in the TikTok context, refers to a specialized segment of content. By focusing on a niche, artists can attract a targeted audience who are genuinely interested in their work. This leads to increased engagement and allows for the creation of authentic content that reflects the artist's true passion and expertise.

3. Artistic Niches Taking Over TikTok

Pottery and Ceramics: From molding the clay to the final glazing, pottery creators have mesmerized viewers. By sharing tips and tricks, they not only entertain but educate budding pottery enthusiasts.

A great example of someone finding their niche in pottery is Shelby Sherritt. The Aussie Potter creates handcrafted pieces inspired by her love of Australian natives, whimsy and kitsch creations. She shares what her daily experiences from her studio, and her followers love to see what exciting moulds she uses.

@shelbysherritt Mould 44 of the mystery moulds I bought online! What do you think of this mould!? #arttok #mysterymoulds #winniethepooh ♬ Winnie the Pooh (From "Winnie the Pooh") - Cover Kid

Digital Art and Illustration: Digital artists captivate with time-lapse videos of their creations. Tutorials on tools like Procreate or Adobe Illustrator offer added value.

One of our favorite self-taught illustrators is Natasha, also known as @Nataszko online. Natasha has created a safe space for aspiring digital artists and illustrators. She provides deep dives into art history and shares tutorials for beginners.

@nataszko

Character illustration tutorial for beginners! 🎨❤️

♬ original sound - Natasha- Illustration Teacher

Animation and Motion Graphics: Animation creators offer a peek behind the curtain, showcasing the hard work that goes into every frame. Through short animated clips, they tell compelling stories.

A fantastic resource for animation is Georgina Cahill. As a motion graphic designer and illustrator located in Chicago, Georgina shares tips on how to network, build your portfolio, and break into the animation industry as a newbie.

@figi_sisters Art school portfolio tips #artschool #artstudent #student #studentlife #artstudio #artistsoftiktok #artiststruggles ♬ GOOD VIBES - Ellen Once Again

4. Strategies for Success in Your Niche

• Consistent Posting: Regular updates keep your audience engaged. Try to post daily at the same time, but if you can only do 2 to 3 times a week, make sure you stay consistent. Schedule out content ahead of time so you always have something to share.

• Engaging with the Community: Interaction boosts visibility. Respond to comments, collaborate with peers, or jump on the latest challenge. You can also follow @ladieswhodesign on TikTok and use our hashtag #ladieswhodesign to share your work with our community.

• Educational Content: Position yourself as an expert by offering tutorials or sharing insights. Not all artists have the same professional experience, so utilize that to your advantage. If you’re just starting out, talk about challenges you faced as a beginner.

• Showcasing the Process: Share the creative process, emphasizing the journey as much as the final product. For example, if you create stickers, show how you come up with your designs and then talk about how you choose vendors to print your stickers.

5. Collaborating for Greater Reach

Collaborations can exponentially increase reach. By partnering with fellow artists, creators can bring fresh content ideas to the table. Identify creators whose style aligns with yours and approach them with a clear collaboration idea.

A great example of someone collaborating with other artists is Jess Miller. She creates and hosts drawing challenges with other artists on Instagram and TikTok. A lot of her work starts from drawing challenge prompts and leads to larger projects, like this one for Target.

@jessmillerdraws Manifest your dreams! Check out the 3 Halloween cards I have on shelf at Target 🎯 🎃 👻 #spookyseason2023 #spookyscaryskeletons #spookyartists #spookyartwork #halloween2023 #artistoftiktok #artistsoftiktok #digitalpainting #artcommunity #arttrend #artistproblems #artfyp #procreate #digitalartist #arttok #artblock #myart #artstyle #procreateart #sketchbook #artlicensing #artprocess #timelapseart #artistoftiktok #procreateart #drawingprocess #digitalillustration #ipaddrawing ♬ Halloween ・ cute horror song - PeriTune

6. Challenges in the TikTok Art World

You’ll face some challenges when posting on TikTok, but there are ways to avoid the common ones below:

• Saturation: Offer a unique perspective to stand out. Don’t do what everyone else is doing because you won’t grow on TikTok or as an artist.

• Trends vs. Authenticity: Keep up with trends but maintain your unique voice. This can be hard when there are so many trends on your “For You Page,” but find ways to relate the trends to your art.

• Handling Criticism: Differentiate between constructive criticism and plain negativity. If you do something wrong, own up to it, but don’t let others stop you from making art.

7. Embrace Your Authenticity on TikTok

In the vast world of TikTok, niches hold the power to build dedicated and engaged communities. For artists, it's an opportunity to showcase talent, share knowledge, and connect with like-minded individuals. Dive in, explore, and let your unique artistic voice echo in the TikTok universe.

How To Get Free Followers On TikTok ⤵️

DON'T DO IT! It can be tempting to take the short route and use a paid service to get more followers. There are many advertisements for "free TikTok followers" and "free TikTok likes," but they're expensive and a waste of time. Fake followers do not lead to success.

The easiest way to get free TikTok followers is to use the app and grow organically. ⤵️

TikTok is not Instagram. As a result, it means followers don't matter as much as they do on Instagram because your videos can randomly end up on a person's For You Page. Of course, having more followers means people will view your videos, but someone doesn't have to follow you to see your content in their home feeds.

For this reason, it's very important to have authentic TikTok followers for your marketing plan. Fake follower scams never benefit your account.

Related Reading Worth Checking Out:

• 10 Effective TikTok Hacks for Artists to Grow Their Following

For 2022, you cannot miss these four design conferences! Most are online as well. Let us know in the comments if you will attend any of these.

Adobe MAX 2022 Creativity Conference

Dates: October 18–20, 2022
Prices: $1,495 (Prices go up after August 31, 2022)
Virtual is FREE if you have an Adobe membership.
Location: Los Angeles, CA, and Online

Adobe MAX 2022 is back in person! Join Adobe as they spark your inspiration and help you bring your best ideas to life. You can also connect with other passionate creatives. And while nothing compares to being face-to-face, you can still join them online.

Featured speakers include Siân Heder, Jason Sudeikis, Jeff Koons, Steve Aoki, Mr. Bingo, Aaron Draplin, Antionette Carroll, Zipeng Zhu, Martina Flor, and many more. View the full lineup!

GRAB YOUR TICKETS!

AIGA Design Conference

Dates: October 20–22, 2022
Prices: Nonmember $1,499 (Prices go up after September 8, 2022)
Virtual is $499 for Nonmembers and $299 for Members (Prices go up after September 8, 2022)
Location: Seattle, WA, and Online

If you’re tired of video meetings and need some inspirational motivation, AIGA has you covered. Get off Zoom and connect IRL in Seattle with your design community at the 2022 AIGA Design Conference! Prepare to get inspired and re-energized while learning from designers at the cutting edge of today’s hot topics in the community.

The 2022 Conference Moderators include Rick Griffith, Brian Collins, Lee-Sean Huang, and Debbie Millman. Check out the full schedule here!

GRAB YOUR TICKETS!

Creative Works Conference

Dates: October 6–8, 2022
Prices: General Admission $399.00, Student Admission $199.00,
and Virtual Pass $99.00.
Location: Memphis, TN, and Online

The Creative Works Conference is a 3-day event featuring (18) eye-opening presentations, (10) hands-on workshops, (3) unforgettable after parties, (36) curated market vendors, and so much more from top creative talent from across the country.

Join Creative Works in Memphis this October as they celebrate and showcase the possibilities of a creative career, plug you into the skills you need to grow your practice, and connect you to friends and creative peers from around the globe.

GRAB YOUR TICKETS!

Goodtype Kernference

Dates: November 1–4, 2022
Price: $147 Early Bird Tickets (Prices go up after August 31, 2022)
Location: Online

Goodtype is hosting an epic 4-day virtual event celebrating our mutual love of letters.

The Kernference will feature talks, demos, and panels from the industry’s top players and rising talent. Featured speakers include Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co., Tobias Frere-Jones, Justina Blakeney of The Jungalow, and more. Get nerdy about type and grab your early bird ticket now!

GRAB YOUR TICKETS!

Like what you see? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
If you want to support our work, buy us a coffee.

The following article may contain affiliate links, but this doesn't cost you anything. When you shop or use our affiliate partner links, you help support our small business as well. We will never work with a brand or showcase a product that we don't personally use or believe in.

1. Relate to your audience
   When you’re creating content or sharing your artwork, you need to make sure it click with the people who are watching it. If they see your Reel and think “that’s LITERALLY me,” you’re on the right track.

2. Express your perspective as an artist
   Share your passion and showcase your personality. Teach people how to create something. Show off your skillset. This is what makes you unique, and people want to see it.

3. Engage in the conversation
   Whatever is happening right now, people want to hear your take on it. Put your spin on the conversations that are trending. Another way to see what’s trending is Google Trends. Pick a topic and talk about it. People are always curious about how you’re growing your design brand online.

4. Let go of your fears
   Trying out new things can be difficult. This is especially true as an artist when you have a set process, but try to put those fears away. There’s no wrong or right way to create a reel. Your way is the right way, and if you’re having fun, your followers will as well.

5. Surprise people and tell a story
   When you’re creating your Reels, find a way to grab someone’s attention within the first 3 to 5 seconds. There needs to be a beginning, middle, and end. That can be through transitions, a big reveal, a plot twist or even a punchline. If you have issues with this, find trending reels and relate them to your art or experience as an artist.

6. Shoot vertical
   Reels are a vertical format, so be sure to shoot 9:16 to make them immersive.

7. No watermarks
   Instagram recognizes when you recycle content from other apps, so be sure to remove your TikTok watermark before re-sharing. A great way to do this is through the Snaptik app.

8. Look into the lens
   When you’re creating content for Reels, remember to create it in first-person. Look into the camera lens often and make yourself approachable.

9. Make a Cover Photo
   Instead of picking a frame from the Reel as your Cover Photo, Instagram seems to favor Cover Photos made in IG Stories or uploaded separately. Later has a great post about making Cover Photos.

10. Share! Share! Share!
    Once you’ve posted your Reel, don’t forget to share to IG Stories and encourage your followers to share as well. There’s some great little GIF stickers with the “like, comment, share” icons. Use those when posting to IG Stories. You can also share to Facebook if you’re prompted, no Facebook account necessary. Sharing is what helps your brand grow online.

So there you have it! 10 must-know Instagram Reels tips, direct from Instagram HQ. Will you be trying any of these out in 2022? Let us know in the comments below. Feel free to share your tips as well.

Like what you see? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
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We’ve been researching how Web3 will impact designers and artists who share work online. In this post, we provide some stats that may surprise you.⁠

Over the next five years, it’s estimated that Web3 will have a market value of over 10 trillion dollars. However, with the recent crypto crash and now NFTs hitting their lowest value, we know that the market is not always stable. Nor, is it diverse. ⁠

According to a recent LinkedIn Economic Graph, only 30.4% of women made up crypto hires in the United States from 2018 to 2021. That’s compared to 43% of actual finance jobs going to women during the same period. Also, over 81% of Web3 participants are male.⁠

Why are female and non binary creatives still hesitant to join NFT and crypto spaces? ⁠

Here are some factors…

👉 Mining or using a crypto currency online produces emissions that could have a long term impact on the environment. Ethereum can only handle around 15 transactions per second on the blockchain. For every day that proof-of-stake is delayed, Ethereum is effectively like operating two to three coal power plants. (via “Ethereum Emissions” by Kyle McDonald on @medium)⁠
⁠
👉 Only 26% of women make up Web3 investors and less than 15% of women actually invest in Bitcoin. (via @gemini’s Women and Crypto: The New Frontier webinar)⁠
⁠
👉 Web3 is still like the Wild West! Crypto just became regulated in the United States. In March of 2022, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets. According to an accompanying fact sheet, it is the “first ever, whole-of-government approach” to regulating cryptocurrency activities. (via Shearman & Sterling LLP for jdsupra.com)⁠
⁠
👉 It’s scammy! Rug pull scams take advantage of newcomers. These scams are a malicious maneuver in the cryptocurrency industry where crypto developers abandon a project and run away with investors’ funds. (via @coinmarketcap’s Crypto Glossary)⁠

What are your thoughts? Would you be willing to join this space if more funding and resources were provided for creatives like you?

Sleigh Bells are ringing, and here at Ladies Who Design, we are READY to celebrate the Holiday season. Since we’re all preparing for the holidays, we know how stressful it can be getting creative gifts for feminist designers.

Luckily, we’ve worked with and bought from some amazing brands, so we know exactly where to start your shopping list. If you’re like us, you love creative gifts that not only have a meaningful touch but double up as being very functional –– so we’re putting together the ultimate gift guide for creative women to help you find the perfect gift that ticks those meaningful boxes.

This gift guide isn’t for just anyone, though –– it’s for the creative woman who wants to take her skills to the next level while supporting female driven businesses. We’ve broken this guide down into clothing, female-owned businesses, books, snacks, WFH essentials, and more. Happy shopping!

P.S. If there’s something we should include, let us know in the comments! We’re always on the hunt for feminist brands and women-owned businesses to support.

CLOTHING AND FASHION

Tuesday of California
Tuesday of California is an independently owned lifestyle brand that designs and produces clothes in sizes XXS-7X with an emphasis on adjustable fit for comfort and style. Tuesday Bassen, the illustrator and designer who founded Tuesday of California, also believes in sustainable business practices and works with Latinx owned factories to manufacture her clothes in California. We love this brand! Check out the best sellers, like the Dining Dress and Audrey Skirt.

An-Nhien Nguyen Art
An-Nhien is an illustrator and designer with a love for the whimsical and a slight obsession with florals. We love that her custom made apparel caters to grown ups who still dream about mermaids, unicorns, and witches. Check out her comfy Carpe Noctem Pullover!

Armoire
As much as we love fashion, sometimes we don’t have the time or patience to shop sometimes, so I use Armoire. Armoire is a clothing rental service that gives client unlimited access to endless styles for a monthly fee. Armoire is a sustainable and affordable way to switch up your closet. Enter code “ladieswhodesign” at checkout or use our referral link for 50% off your first month and a bonus item!

Ladies Who Design Merch
Our shop launched in 2017, and we’re currently in the process of creating more products! Check out some of our most popular items, like The Future is Female Shirt and Chin Up! Fangs Out! Shirt. If you’re looking for the famous “A Woman’s Place is in the Resistance” poster, you can find that here.

Check out the whole Ladies Who Design shop!

SHOP SMALL/WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES

And Studio
This small design studio and print shop is owned by two women, and it produces quality goods including art prints and fine jewelry in Chicago's Roscoe Village neighborhood. They now offer workshops ranging from printmaking to fiber art. We recommend checking out their Fuck The Patriarchy Keychain! Be sure to follow And Studio on Instagram @_andstudio.

Eugenia Kids
Founded in 2021 with savings bonds from her late grandmother, Ali Koehler started Eugenia Kids to celebrate childhood imagination and humor. Her shop features adorable hair clips, astrology nursery prints, and more! We recommend the Pet Name Hair Clip Pack! You can also find Eugenia Kids in these shops across the country. Be sure to follow Ali on Instagram @eugeniakids.

Rainbow Babe
Jax Goswick operates this woman-owned business, and it features a lot of wonderful mental health and fat inclusive art. We recommend checking out her Never Perfect Print and Fat Babe Ornaments. Be sure to follow Jax on Instagram @jax.rainbowbabe.

Reset Reality
Vanessa Lee operates this woman-owned business that features unique, original, abstract watercolor figure paintings and bird illustration drawings. We recommend grabbing one of her gorgeous bird prints! Be sure to follow Vanessa on Instagram @_resetreality.

Unraveling Arts
This Black, woman-owned small business is operated by Marielle Lamothe. She has an amazing collection of art prints, pins, stickers, and Christmas cards for sale that would make excellent stocking suffers! We recommend checking out her gorgeous Minimalist Girl Print. Be sure to follow Marielle on Instagram @unravelingarts.

Wing On Wo & Co 永安和
This is one of the oldest continuously operating stores in Manhattan’s Chinatown boasting a five-generation long legacy. They sell primarily porcelain ware and cultural goods. Wing On Wo & Co. hopes to breathe new life into cultural craft by reinterpreting tradition through an Asian American lens. We recommend checking out their Double Fish Vase and Handpainted Wine Cups. Be sure to follow them on Instagram @wingonwoandco.

BOOKS

Libro.fm
One of our favorite discoveries this year has been Libro.fm! It’s an online service that splits the profit of audiobook purchases with local, independent bookstores. Use our referral link or enter the code lfm328492 and get a free audiobook with your new membership!

Art Inc. by Lisa Congdon
If you’re wanting to start an art business, this is the perfect book! In this book by Lisa Congdon, you will learn how to set actionable goals, diversify your income streams and much more. Grab your copy from our Amazon list!

Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace (recommended by our Patreon supporter, Lavinia)
This book is amazing because it touches not only on creativity as inspiration, brainstorming or ideation, but it also teaches a valuable lesson on managing, and keeping creative when things get complicated. All women can benefit greatly from this book!

Everything I Know So Far About Running a Freelance Illustration Business by Taaryn Brench (recommended by our Patreon supporter, Lily)
Are you new to illustration and feel totally lost when it comes to freelancing? In this 72 page e-book, designer and illustrator Taaryn Brench, shares everything she knows (so far) about running a freelance illustration business with the aim of demystifying the whole thing. You’ll become empowered when it comes to dealing with clients and certain situations. You’ll also have a clear and direct actionable plan to attract your dream clients. Grab this book now!

Graphic Artists Guild Handbook
We recommend this book all the time, because it’s a valuable resources for people who create art and those who buy it. Grab your copy from our Amazon list!

GOOD EATS

GoldBelly
Want to try a cupcake from Magnolia Bakery but you live across the country? No worries, because this is your lucky day! Goldbelly is a curated online marketplace for regional and artisanal foods crafted by local purveyors throughout the United States. Goldbelly's staff also curates products from restaurants, bakeries, and delis to feature on their website, and they have facilitates shipping across all 50 states. Get $15 off your first purchase when you use our link!

HelloFresh
The Holiday season can get hectic! Take some of that pressure away by meal planning with HelloFresh. They offer meal kits with pre-measured ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes. Use our referral link to get $110 off your first order. Pro-tip: If you have college students in your life, they can also get 15% off every box by signing up through their Unidays Page.

Mike’s Hot Honey
You can literally put this on anything! Mike’s Hot Honey is great on pizza, wings, cheese, and even tea. Word of warning…It is addictive!

Old Dominick Huling Station Bourbon
Alex Castle is the Master Distiller or brew master at Old Dominick Distillery in Memphis, Tennessee. She was promoted to the role in 2019, and she has a real passion and dedication to the craft. We recommend checking out the Huling Station Straight Bourbon. It’s the perfect Christmas Bourbon due to its hints of cinnamon and rich caramel.

WORK FROM HOME ESSENTIALS

These are just a few items from our Work From Home Essentials list. You can check out all of the items from this list on our Amazon page.

Keyboard Cleaning Gel ($6)
If you’re working from home, your laptop is working even harder, both as your keyboard and as a lunch tray. This keyboard cleaning gel is perfect for getting out crumbs, dust, pet hair, and more out of your keyboard. You can also use it for general dusting and car detailing. It’s a worthy investment, for sure. Grab yours from our Amazon list.

Mini Fridge ($49)
When you’re working from home, you’re going to want snacks and cold drinks. If you’re sharing a space with others and don’t want to distract them, a mini fridge is perfect to limit your trips to the kitchen. This little fridge has just enough space to stock your favorite seltzers, sodas, and snacks throughout the day. Grab yours from our Amazon list.

Portable Dual Monitor ($300)
Let’s be real…A dual monitor setup is the best way to get work done! This portable dual setup for your laptop can help you tackle your to-do list even more quickly, and it’s a real perk now that your home office situation might change from room to room. This portable dual monitor is also compatible with Mac, PC, and Chrome laptops between 13 to 17 inches, and it attaches with device save metal plates. Grab yours from our Amazon list.

Takeya Patented Delux Cold Brew Coffee Maker ($19.95)
One of the easiest cold brew coffee makers to use! All you have to do is stick your favorite ground coffee in the filter, seal the airtight lid, and place it in the fridge overnight. Then, you’re good to go in the morning (or afternoon in our case). This coffee make promises to make smooth and delicious iced coffee. Grab yours from our Amazon list.

ONLINE CREATIVE COURSES

Domestika
Domestika is one of the fastest-growing international creative communities where experts share their knowledge through professionally produced online courses. You can learn about software, crafts, design, illustration, photography, and much more. Enter code LADIESWHODESIGN-PROMO for 10% off any course (valid until 12/11/2021). Domestika always runs amazing promos so be sure to check back often!

Calligraphy and Lettering for Instagram with Procreate
In this Domestika course, Nubia Navarro, who has worked with brands such as Marriott, Adidas, Samsung, Coca-Cola, and UNICEF, teaches you how to combine photographs with lettering in Procreate to create Instagram-worthy pieces.

Exploratory Sketchbook: Find Your Drawing Style
This Domestika course with Sarah van Dongen takes you on an inspiring journey through her illustration universe. Discover her methods for creating unique illustrations and finding your drawing style. Learn how to use color, composition, texture, and anatomy to draw from observation and tell the stories you want to tell.

Digital Fantasy Portraits with Photoshop
In this Domestika course, Karmen Loh will show you the soft, glittering ropes to her polished technique for creating digital fantasy portraits that narrate an ethereal atmosphere, with precision and skill. Her use of Adobe Photoshop has an easy to follow structure, that will give you all the necessary tools to fuse your imagination through this program to create your own unique fantasy narration into your digital portraits.

Modern Watercolor Techniques
With Ana Victoria and Domestika, you will learn how to master watercolor step by step and use it in a fun way to create unimaginable results. There are times when the technique itself, because of its nature, acts on its own. In this course, you will discover how to take advantage of these unexpected "mistakes" for your own benefit.

Skillshare
If you’re looking to learn new skills or brush up on old ones, you should join Skillshare’s online learning community for creatives. When you sign up using our link, you get two weeks of Skillshare for free!

Hopefully, this gift guide will help you find the perfect gift for the creative women in your life this holiday season. Happy shopping!

The law worsens health outcomes for women and ensures there will be no safe access to abortions anywhere. Clinics will close, leaving many women with no options other than unsafe methods to end their pregnancy. Many organizations are challenging the law, which they believe to be unconstitutional. The Women's March and more than 90 other organizations have put out a national call to mobilize and defend our reproductive rights. The march is occurring in every single state ahead of the Supreme Court reconvening on October 4th.

The October 2nd Women's March is one of the most important marches in recent history. So let's make this moment count together! It's time to send a message about the importance of safe access for women, and we want you there with us. Here are some free posters created by amazing female artists from our online community that can be printed out, shared on social media, or displayed proudly during your march preparations. We hope these images inspire you as they have done for many people around the world - we're all counting on each other now more than ever before.

ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT:
Whole Woman’s Health Alliance
West Fund
The Bridge Collective
Jane’s Due Process
Frontera Fund
Clinic Access Support Network
Lilith Fund
Texas Equal Access Fund
Fund Texas Choice

HOW TO DOWNLOAD POSTERS: Click on any image below to download or view larger size images of each poster. Images open in new browser windows; close those windows after viewing to return here. To download all the posters from one place, check out our Dropbox. These are not available for resale. If you would like permission to share, please get in touch with the artist listed.

We must MOBILIZE and DEFEND our Reproductive Rights. Join us on October 2, 2021. Pledge to march now. womens march october 2, 2021, women’s march, bans off our bodies, march for reproductive rights, free protest posters

Building your design business is not always easy. There are many factors to consider when starting, and it can seem like an overwhelming task. To make this process easier, we've created this guide with 4 steps to building your design business that will help get you started on the right foot!

Step One: Set the Foundation for Your Dream Clients

First, you need to set the foundation for your dream clients. Your marketing, pricing, portfolios, and content should focus on the clients you want to work with in the future. Questions to consider: Who is your ideal client? What do they like? How can you market yourself to them specifically? You should be able to describe someone who matches their profile easily!

Step Two: Create a Portfolio of the Work You Want to Make

Next, you will need to design a cohesive portfolio that presents what your business stands for, showcases your style, and demonstrates what you love to do. The most important tip for choosing work to include in your portfolio is the work you want to be doing. Do not include logos if you desire to create illustrative portraits. You want your portfolio to be consistent to attract the right clients.

Step Three: Establish a Client Process With Packages and Pricing

After you have designed your portfolio, you will need a work process for your clients. You should also include packages and pricing. We highly recommend checking out the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, 16th Edition: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines. This guidebook has contracts and pricing guidelines that will be very helpful. It would help if you also established what information you will need from your clients, how they can pay their invoices, and when you expect payment. You want this process to be easy for your clients, so they move through your projects with ease. Furthermore, this is a great time to decide whether or not clients would be a good fit for your business long term. Whatever you do, establish a straightforward system that you can follow because you will need this for day-to-day operations.

Step Four: Stick to Your Authentic Voice

As you are developing your business brand, it is essential to establish an authentic voice. Your design business will only succeed if you feel confident in what you do and who you are as a designer. It's also vital for potential clients to see that through your branding efforts; so they know whom they're working with before even meeting or speaking with you. No one else can replicate your voice. Be yourself and be creative.

One closing note to remember is that it's crucial to have goals you're working towards, both professionally and personally. The two should go hand-in-hand. In the end, once you have a strong business that's grounded in your unique voice and goals, as well as those of your potential clients, success will come naturally.

We want you to know that starting a design company can be difficult at times, but we are here for you every step of the way. We have many resources such as our blog posts or our online community for promoting your work. Our team is always happy to see someone take their first steps into entrepreneurship, so don't hesitate if you need any information! What's next? Are you ready to take these four steps and create a new dream career for yourself? Let me know in the comments below if this guide has been helpful.

FURTHER READING: Tools to Invest in for Your Design Business

Social Media Scheduler: Later App

Whether you're an Instagram pro or just getting started, Later has you covered! This app allows you to plan, schedule, publish and measure the results of your Instagram and social media posts. Spend less time posting to social media and more time growing your business.

Hashtag Research Tool: Flick App

Using the right hashtags can get your content and profile in front of your target audience. Flick’s Instagram Hashtag Search makes it easier than ever. This tool is a game-changer!

Pricing Guide For Projects: Graphic Artists Guild Handbook

The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook offers complete pricing and ethical references for designers. There are even contract samples you can use from the handbook. Grab this book now!

Accounting Tool: Quickbooks

Quickbooks takes the trouble of being your accountant completely out of the equation. Track your income and expenses, send invoices, perform bookkeeping, and more with your incredibly visual and easy-to-use business profile. Put your mind at ease and use the link below to GET 55% OFF your first three months!

High Yield Savings Account: Chime
A lot of banks don't offer high interest rates on general savings accounts. That's why it's important to use an online high-yield savings account with a higher interest rate. Do yourself a favor and open one today! Instead of earning 0.01% interest, you could be earning 0.50% with a high yield savings account.

Invest Your Profits: M1 Finance

Once you start making money from your business, you need to re-invest in yourself. If you find investing intimidating, M1 Finance can help you establish a goal, like retirement or building wealth, by making it simple and easy. They guide you through the entire process and invest FOR YOU. Click the link below to learn more!

Reading about what it takes for a man to succeed in the creative industry might even be detrimental to your work because their goals may not align with yours. We've made it our mission to cover all of that and more, with the best books for creative women taking into account psychological research on creativity in addition to advice from authors who have a background in women's empowerment. We hope you discover a new book to inspire your creativity!

Be sure to check out the Ladies Who Design Book List on Amazon that is updated regularly to include diverse and inclusive writers.

Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-Racist, Nonbinary Field Guide for Graphic Designers

Authors: Ellen Lupton (Thinking with Type), Farah Kafei, Jennifer Tobias, Josh A. Halstead, Kaleena Sales, Leslie Xia, and Valentina Vergara.

Extra Bold offers a platform for lesser heard voices in the design world to share their insights. Along with information on hiring processes, power structures, mentoring, and workplace discrimination Extra Bold seeks to make the designing industry more accessible while highlighting an array of different styles from around the globe. They are written collaboratively by a diverse team of authors, with original, handcrafted illustrations by Jennifer Tobias that bring warmth, happiness, humor, and narrative depth to book.

Embrace Your Weird: Face Your Fears and Unleash Creativity

Author: Felicia Day

In Embrace Your Weird, New York Times bestselling author, producer, actress, TV writer, and award-winning web series creator Felicia Day takes readers on a journey to help them unlock their power of self-expression. Whether someone enjoys baking like Day herself does or has yet to uncover what they're passionate about doing creatively, this book will give you the motivation needed so that you, too, can get creative.

The Big Leap: A Guide to Freelancing for Creatives

Author: Martina Flor

Becoming your boss can be a liberating, fulfilling experience. Martina Flor has created the perfect resource for freelancing for those looking to leap into entrepreneurship and self-employment. The Big Leap covers all aspects of starting your own business, from practical skills like identifying potential clients and pricing projects to important big-picture topics like managing time and finances, diversifying income streams, and taking care of your most important tool—you! Creatives across disciplines will benefit from this thorough and easy-to-follow career guide, including designers, illustrators, photographers, programmers, writers, and editors.

Baseline Shift: Untold Stories of Women in Graphic Design History

Editor: Briar Levit

Baseline Shift centers on diverse women across backgrounds whose work has shaped, shifted, and formed graphic design as we know it today. From an interdisciplinary book designer and calligrapher starting in Harlem's Renaissance to the invisible drafters of Monotype's drawing office, the women represented here include auteurs, advocates for social justice, and creators ahead of their time. The fifteen essays in this illustrated collection come from contributors with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. Baseline Shift is essential reading for students and practitioners of graphic design and anyone with an interest in women's history.

Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic

Author: Lisa Congdon

Find Your Artistic Voice is a guide that helps artists and creatives identify their visual identities. Lisa Congdon teaches readers the basics of how to let go of restrictive mindsets for more creative freedom. You also learn to develop your unique artistic style from interviews with established artists, illustrators, and creatives. This book offers everyday strategies, inspirational anecdotes, and practical advice to push through fear and insecurity in your artistic practice. This book is a perfect gift for aspiring artists and creatives, serious hobbyists, art students, makers, teachers, budding creative professionals, and fans of Lisa Congdon.

These are just a few books for creative women. If you have additional recommendations, please leave them in the comments below or send us an email. You can also check out the Ladies Who Design Book List on Amazon that is updated regularly to include diverse and inclusive writers.

books for creative women, best graphic design books, recommended reading for designers

Finding the right tools to help you maintain your design business's brand, systems, and daily operations can be complex. That's why I've decided to let you know the exact ones I use every day to run my online design business. These platforms have saved me time, money, and energy. They have allowed me to get back to doing the things that I do best. Let's get started! If you are starting and do not have a lot of money to spend, I will also include whether or not they have a free trial and special offers.

Design

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Adobe Creative Cloud

Creative Cloud is a collection of 20+ desktop and mobile apps and services for photography, design, video, web, UX, and more. You can even access apps on your iPad now.

Price: Free to try; US$ 52.99/mo. for Individuals and US$ 19.99/mo. for Students and Teachers

File Management

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Dropbox

Dropbox is great for transferring, sharing, and storing important files. It also backs up and syncs docs, photos, videos, and other files to cloud storage. This allows you to access them from any device, no matter where you are.

Price: Free or upgrade for more space; US$ 9.99/mo. for Plus (2TB) and US$ 16.99/mo. for Family (Share 2TB)

Accounting

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Quickbooks

Quickbooks takes the trouble of being your own accountant completely out of the equation. Track income & expenses, send invoices, perform bookkeeping, and more with your incredibly visual and easy-to-use business profile. They have a live bookkeeping expert on hand to help with setup at an additional cost, but I found the software very user-friendly. All plans make accounting tasks very simple, and they have tons of resources to help find and setup the right plan for you.

Price: They have three different pricing plans for small businesses and one plan for freelancers. I use the Self-Employed option under the Freelancer’s tab, which is $15/month.

But you can save 55% off your first three months by clicking the button below!

Pricing Guide and Contracts

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Graphic Artists Guild Handbook

This is MY BIBLE! The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook offers complete pricing and ethical references for designers. It also helps members and non-members alike navigate the world of charging and collecting payment for their designs and building their freelance business. There are even contract samples you can use from the handbook. Grab this book now!

Price: $49.95

Online Shop

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Printful

Printful makes setting up an online shop easy. Their integrations work seamlessly with platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, and Big Cartel. They even provide a mockup generator to help you get your products ready to sell.

Price: Free to setup an account. No setup costs, minimums, or monthly fees. Once you make an order, they will charge you for manufacturing and shipping. If you want a guide for pricing and profits, check out this payment guide.

These tools have helped me grow my business exponentially! Should you choose to invest in any of them, I wish you all the best with your business pursuits. Feel free to leave any comments or questions below, and I will do my best to answer!

We respect your privacy.

Thanks so much for subscribing!

TikTok has become a social media sensation, and for artists, it presents a fantastic opportunity to expand their reach and gain a larger following. In this blog post, we will share ten effective TikTok hacks specifically tailored for artists, enabling them to grow their following rapidly.

1. Find Your Niche as an Artist

To succeed on TikTok, it's crucial to identify and focus on your artistic niche. Determine what sets you apart and create content that revolves around your unique style. Whether it's lettering, painting, or sculpting, hone in on your niche and provide valuable tips, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and engaging tutorials to captivate your audience.

Maybe your niche is lettering. If that’s the case, you want to focus on all the aspects of lettering. Share tips you have learned. Show some behind the scene videos of you creating your work. Guide your followers through a tutorial. You have so many paths you could explore. Sit down and write everything you can think of in terms of your niche, and then you’ll have a great starting list of content for your TikTok account.

A great example of someone finding their niche is Chriselle Lim, Co-founder, and CMO at bümo. The fashion-obsessed mom says that whatever your brand is, no matter your age or subject, there is an audience on TikTok for everything. For example, if you’re looking to reach parents, create content that resonates with or provides value for them.

@chrisellelim

MY DAUGHTER STYLES ME PART 1! Do you guys want to see how the look turned out??? #LittleBitFancy #motherdaughter #momlife #outfit #style

♬ original sound - Chriselle Lim

2. Craft an Engaging Profile Bio

Your TikTok profile bio should be approachable, fun, and convey what makes your art special. Avoid copying your Instagram bio and create something fresh and enticing. Consider adding a call to action, such as "Follow for lettering tips and tricks!" to encourage viewers to engage with your content.

3. Optimize Lighting for High-Quality Videos

Lighting plays a vital role in creating visually appealing TikTok videos. Ensure you have good lighting to enhance the visibility and quality of your content. Filming during the day in a well-lit room is recommended, and investing in a ring light can significantly improve the overall aesthetics of your videos. You don’t need a ring light, but they step up your game! This one is my recommended ring light, and it’s affordable.

4. Leverage Recommended & Trending Songs

Take advantage of TikTok's recommended and trending songs feature. Using popular songs can increase the visibility of your videos as TikTok actively promotes content featuring trending music. Explore the app's music library and select songs that align with your artistic style to attract a wider audience.

Why is it important to use trending songs? TikTok promotes videos using trending songs. TikTok influences the music industry. All you have to do is take a look at the Top 100 Songs on Spotify, and you'll see that it's true. Many of the top songs are the ones that are super popular on TikTok.

It's not a coincidence either. TikTok organizes deals with record labels and frequently pushes artist's songs in the app to increase music sales and increase the chances of that song reaching high spots in the weekly charts.

How do you know what songs are trending? When you make your video, use one of the recommended songs that TikTok suggests. It is that easy! You can also check out Tokboard, a site that keeps track of the top tracks on TikTok every week and month. It will also give you an idea of what songs are rising in the app.

5. Harness the Power of Trending Hashtags in Your Caption

Incorporate trending hashtags into your TikTok captions to maximize exposure. Well-chosen hashtags increase the likelihood of your videos appearing on more For You Pages. TikTok often collaborates with brands, so using branded hashtags relevant to your art can amplify your content's reach.

For example, remember that “Eyes Lip Face” audio with E.L.F. Cosmetics? That was a TikTok ad campaign. You can find the trending hashtags by using the in-app hashtag suggestion tool. The suggestion tool emerges when you’re in the caption stage of editing your video. Hit the #, and suggestions will appear. Use those hashtag suggestions!

6. Put a Unique Twist on Trending Content

Even if you can't replicate popular dance trends, you can still put your own artistic twist on them. Infuse trending videos with your creativity and showcase your unique perspective. Add unexpected surprises, humor, or clever endings to captivate viewers and potentially make your content go viral.

A great example would be taking a trend like “I can take your man if I want to,” where hot girls flaunted for the camera. Instead of thirst trapping, you can take that trend and put a HUGE SURPRISE twist at the end. Make sure it’s funny! Those videos get millions of views, and it could easily lead to your account blowing up overnight.

Some trends come out of nowhere, and others align with current events. Beauty influencer and TikTok star Seth Obrien says that speed is one of the best ways to get your content seen on TikTok.

@sethobrien

full face of makeup over a face mask #makeup

♬ Say So (Instrumental Version) [Originally Performed by Doja Cat] - Elliot Van Coup

7. Post Consistently at Ideal Times

Consistency is key on TikTok. Post regularly and aim for ideal posting times to maximize visibility and engagement. Posting during peak usage periods, such as early mornings, mid-afternoons, and late evenings, can boost views and attract more followers. Stick to a consistent posting schedule to maintain audience interest.

Consider your time zone too. A few online sources suggest posting early in the morning, mid-afternoon, or late at night. These are the times when people tend to be looking at their phones more. You also want to post consistently and preferably at that same time every day. Aim to post two videos a day so you can hit those ideal posting times. You can learn more about TikTok’s algorithm here.

8. Preserve Your Videos - Don’t Delete Them

Not all videos will gain traction immediately. Sometimes, older videos suddenly gain popularity and go viral. Therefore, it's crucial not to delete any of your TikTok content. Any video has the potential to resurface on users' For You Pages, leading to a significant increase in views and followers.

9. Collaborate and Connect Through Stitch

Utilize TikTok's Stitch feature to build connections and collaborate with other artists. Stitch allows you to incorporate snippets of other users' videos into your own, fostering engagement and encouraging community interaction. Share stories, provide commentary, or add your artistic flair using Stitch.

@tiktok

Now Introducing: STITCH! Make the ultimate collab with your fav creators 🎬

♬ original sound - TikTok

10. Embrace the Fun and Authenticity of TikTok

Ultimately, TikTok should be a platform for artists to express themselves, embrace different mediums, and showcase their creative process authentically. Be real, have fun, and don't be afraid to show your personality. Remember, TikTok's algorithm is designed to highlight unique and engaging content. When in doubt, you can always post your cat or dog.

By implementing these ten effective TikTok hacks tailored for artists, you can enhance your visibility, grow your following, and connect with a broader audience. Remember to stay consistent, engage with your viewers, and let your creativity shine. Get ready to make your mark in the TikTok artist community and watch your following soar!

How To Get Free Followers On TikTok ⤵️

DON'T DO IT! It can be tempting to take the short route and use a paid service to get more followers. There are many advertisements for "free TikTok followers" and "free TikTok likes," but they're expensive and a waste of time. Fake followers do not lead to success.

The easiest way to get free TikTok followers is to use the app and grow organically. ⤵️

TikTok is not Instagram. As a result, it means followers don't matter as much as they do on Instagram because your videos can randomly end up on a person's For You Page. Of course, having more followers means people will view your videos, but someone doesn't have to follow you to see your content in their home feeds.

For this reason, it's very important to have authentic TikTok followers for your marketing plan. Fake follower scams never benefit your account.

I hope this has helped you learn some new tips on how to get followers on TikTok. Since using these hacks, I've got more Instagram followers, so using TikTok as an artist, influencer, or brand is a smart marketing technique.

If you have any tips, leave a comment below so everyone can see them! If you have any questions, drop a comment below or DM @ladieswhodesign on Instagram, and I'll help you out. Also, be sure to follow Ladies Who Design on TikTok. We can't wait to see what you come up with on TikTok!

Social media is a beast that many creatives have no clue how to tame!

Social media can be an intimidating place for artists, but the key may lie in your followers. It's easy to get lost on social platforms trying out tips and tricks of an engagement or breaking through algorithms with complicated strategies — what works? Perhaps we should go back to basics by engaging our following audience directly instead of constantly scrolling without purpose.

Over the last few years, people have developed shortcuts to get the most significant dopamine response for the least amount of effort. Social media's primary use has always been about connecting with other people. We knew this in the early days of Livejournal, Myspace and Facebook. We enjoy connecting with other people and sharing our stories. Instead of building connections, though, we started talking to people. It's challenging to make your mark on any social media platform when you have to compete with Instagram models, meme lords, and YouTube superstars.

Here are top ten strategies you can implement today to grow your audience on social media:

1. Pick two platforms that work for you.

Every social media platform has its purpose and a different native language. You need to know the difference to focus more on the platforms that will work best for you. It's better to succeed on two platforms than spreading yourself too thin on all of them. If you are like most people with a million social media accounts, it might be time to hone in on the top two platforms that work best for you.

For example, one visual and one conversational platform might be all you can handle. By focusing on Instagram and Twitter, you have one visual platform to show off your portfolio and another conversational platform to talk with potential customers and clients.

2. People engage more with WHY you created something.

Every designer has a story. The people who view your work want to know about you, so when posting personal designs, always mention what it means for you! Behind every design, there's an idea, but more importantly, behind that is the creator and their story.

3. Quantity is better than quality.

It's not just a phrase that applies to your curated portfolio or services, but rather it also applies to how you use social media and grow your following organically. By posting daily or every other day, you can slowly get more followers as they might feel like new posts are coming up, so keep in touch! Quantity is better than quality.

Don't be afraid to post what you've got! As long as it aligns with your message, there's no harm in posting whatever content is available. It may seem like you're constantly feeding the beast but don't worry; creating new content becomes easier when we lower our expectations of perfection. Sometimes done is better than perfect, and if all else fails, archive or delete old posts later on down the track.

4. Reposting your work is okay.

Let's be real. You won't always have the time to create new artwork and designs every day, but that doesn't mean you can't plan when your creative juices will flow best for maximum productivity! Plus, many other things outside of social media consume our energy, including emails or client work. So don't beat yourself up if it feels like all creativity has left the building because this is a normal phase we all go through at some point, so remember to take care of yourself first.

To fulfill your daily content commitment, worry less about making new stuff and more about showing the same work in different ways. For example, if you're selling a print, you could show the process behind it. Then, you could show the final image. You could also mock up what it would look like on someone's wall. If you want to experiment with motion, animate some elements and post them. You can easily take one piece of work and spread it across ten different posts because most people don't see your first or second post. By reposting your work, you remind people what you are up to in terms of new work.

5. Create more of what works for you.

Did you know that your followers have a say in the success of your content? The key is making sure to check your analytics regularly. You can learn what works for you by taking time monthly and reviewing analytics. It will give insight into which posts are working well and where some errors may be occurring with timing or descriptions as they appear online. All platforms have some analytics function, so you don't have to keep track of your engagement manually. Set aside a day near the end of the month and figure out what works for you!

6. Always write and speak to one person.

Writing attention-grabbing descriptions can be hard. It's normal to think, "I have nothing to say about this," but you would be surprised how much you can put in the description with this little writing trick.

When you're out with friends, you naturally talk about yourself and your day. Your stories are full of details on what you made, the challenges you faced, and the enduring highlights of the day. Why not think about the description as an email or text you're sending to a friend? By doing this, you're able to open up to your followers like your friends.

7. Give your audience a chance to be heard.

Feedback is an integral part of the content generation process. Whether you're running a business, developing your brand, or blogging for fun - feedback from people who read what you post can help paint a clearer picture about how and why to improve your posts to reach more readers on social media outlets such as Instagram or TikTok. Open-ended questions are always great ways to start because they turn into active dialogue that leads towards greater engagement overall.

8. Focus on giving back to your community.

Kindness always goes a long way. It is especially true when it comes to building your creative career. It would help if you strived to post work that provides value to your audience. Not everything you post is going to be awesome, but if you're kind and genuine, people will enjoy interacting with you, and they will gladly support you.

One way of giving back to your community is by providing tutorials or sharing resources for free. Share a trick you learned in Photoshop in your Instagram stories or offer free downloads through your website when someone signs up for your newsletter. If you have a large enough following, you can even start a Patreon or subscription service that allows you to deliver content to your audience every month. Next time you plan to launch a new product or passion project, think about how you can give things away to prepare people for the big favor. The more you give, the more you grow as an artist.

9. Put yourself in your feed.

If you're like me, you're going to hate this tactic but hear me out! Many artists and designers are introverts, so it's hard to show their faces online. When you hide behind your work, though, you're missing out on a huge opportunity to build a following. How would you feel if your friends wore a paper bag every time you went out in public? It would be weird, right? It is the same principle online.

There is a fine line to oversharing on social media without being annoying, but there is also a middle ground worth exploring. For every five images of work you post, try posting a shot from your daily life. People want to get to know you. That's why they're following you!

10. Connect after you post.

On your two platforms, you should engage daily. It would be best to try to make a real human connection either by commenting or direct messaging. Do more than just double-tap for a like or insert emojis in the comments.

Reply to every comment you get, check out the commenter's profile, and try to find ways to connect with them. Tell them what you like about their content, what you would like to see more of from them, and ask them questions. You might be surprised by how many replies you get.

There is no harm in trying to connect. The worst possibility is people will ignore you, and if they do, they're not your people. So, why not try?

Sources:
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World by Gary Vaynerchuk
Audience Building Tips by Perspective Collective
1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly
Which Social Media Platforms Should You Use for Your Business?

This is more than a poster — it’s a message. Inspired by Princess Leia and the women’s march movement, A Woman’s Place Is in the Resistance is a bold, empowering piece of feminist art designed for modern rebels.

Whether you’re decorating your design studio, gifting a creative friend, or making a statement in your dorm, this poster speaks to the powerful role of women in history — and sci-fi.

Printed on high-quality paper and featuring original artwork, it’s the perfect gift for Star Wars fans, designers, and anyone who believes in resistance and representation.

*Edit* 1/27/2017
At the moment, I cannot allow for anyone to download “A Woman’s Place is in the Resistance” because people have started selling it without permission. That was not the intended use of the piece. I have removed the Dropbox link, and I have setup a Patreon account. Also, I’m working on obtaining licensing rights, but it could take a while (or it might never happen due to trademark and copyright). I apologize for the inconvenience, but if you follow me on social media and check my website, I will be sure to post more in the coming days.

Thanks for your support!
-Hayley

—

I’m overwhelmed by all the messages of support and love for my designs. You guys loved them so much that my site has crashed! I’m trying to fix that now.

Due to copyright of the Princes Leia press photo from 1977, I’m unable to place this poster for sale online. It’s a tribute only and it’s to bring attention to women’s rights. I’m creating an alternative featuring original artwork and I will be posting that link soon for shirts and prints.

PLEASE NOTE: The political art poster featuring General/Princess Leia Organa is intended to be a tribute to the life and legacy of Carrie Fisher. I wanted it to serve as a source of inspiration to those participating in the women marches across the country. I love and respect Carrie Fisher so much. Her portrayal as Leia Organa in Star Wars has impacted so many people. It’s amazing to see how much joy this has brought people!

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