As we leave 2024 behind and look forward to all that’s to come in 2025, we’re proud of all the hard stuff we’ve tackled for our clients. But we didn’t do it alone. Here’s a resource wrap-up reflecting on some of our favorite sites, software, follows, and apps that have helped power our creativity.
From tools and resources that strengthen our work process to accounts and games that spark inspiration or provide a much-needed brain-break, we hope you’ll find something to inspire you too.
Tools for Work
From shaping our creative philosophy to fueling our passion for innovation to keeping us connected to coworkers and clients, here are some of the tools and resources we rely on to support and propel our work.
Awwwards // An inspiring showcase of the best web designers, developers, and agencies in the world
Box // File sharing and collaborative notes to stay organized and ensure team alignment both internally and with clients
B2B Elements of Value // 40 Elements of Value across five categories giving insight into what’s important to B2B clients
Coolors // A quick way to get started exploring color palettes
Eight Shapes Contrast Grid // Test color contrast accessibility compliance across a project palette
“The EightShapes Contrast Grid is a tool that I can confidently say I ALWAYS have open in my browser! Whether I’m workshopping a new color palette from the ground up, or optimizing an existing brand palette for use on the web, it is SO helpful to be able to see the contrast levels between various color pairings to ensure they meet accessibility standards.”
Flowmapp // Everything you need to build a website before opening Sketch or Figma
“Turns out, there are angels looking out for designers, writers, and developers and apparently they work at Flowmapp. This year, we took Flowmapp for a spin on a live client project and it helped us crush it by becoming the single source of truth for the info-arc, sitemap, wireframes, content, and client feedback throughout the entire project. A huge win for web design teams everywhere.”
Fonts in Use // Check out typography in the wild
Milanote // Organize your ideas and projects into visual boards
Mural // Bring teams together, even when they’re far apart. Get the big picture with visual collaboration
SaaS Landing Page // Design inspiration to serve our tech-focused clients
“When I’m getting started on a new web design project, one of my favorite parts of the process is sourcing inspiration. I was stoked when I stumbled upon SaaS Landing Page, and quickly bookmarked it because of its treasure trove of inspiration. I love that the collection is grouped by content-type, which made it easy to find relevant designs that matched what I was looking for. Unlike some other inspiration sites, each source in the collection is a live website that you can visit directly to interact with and explore first-hand.”
Typespiration // A great source to find some typography inspo
UX Writing Hub // Championing, training, and educating on all things UX writing
“When I shifted from traditional content development to UX writing, it was still a new discipline in the UX world. UX Writing Hub had everything I needed to improve my skills – from in-depth training to an exhaustive blog covering key topics, tutorials, and industry trends to a supportive professional community committed to helping each other grow and advance in the field.”
WhatFont // A Chrome plugin that tells you everything you need to know about the fonts on a page without digging through source code
Time to Play
Sometimes we all need a creative break to recharge, rethink, and reinspire. Take a look at some of the social media we follow, our favorite creative games, thought-provoking podcasts, and apps we use over and over.
99% Invisible // A podcast exploring the process and power of design, even when we don’t notice it
ARTECHOUSE // Art, science, and technology come together in immersive experiences
Colorfle // A wordle-style game that has you mixing colors in your mind
Creative Types // Discover your creative personality
“I have to admit, I’m a big fan of shareable personality quizzes—especially when they’re creative. The Adobe Creative Types test is like a playful twist on Myers-Briggs, featuring a vibrant, collaborative design that offers a delightfully quirky experience. The results not only reveal your creative type but also offer insights into your motivations and suggest ideal creative partnerships. I highly recommend this quiz—it always leaves me feeling inspired!”
Empty // A simple, relaxing puzzle game that plays on color and perspective
“Empty is a game where solid-colored objects are arranged in a room with colorful walls. To solve the puzzle, you rotate the room and align the items with others of the same color until they seem to disappear — and then they do. The objective is to clear the room entirely. The mechanic is simple enough, but the puzzles provide more and more challenge to find just the right angles, shifting colors and perspectives as you progress. It’s a fantastic way to take a little break, and reminds you when you’re stuck, you might just need to look at things a different way.”
Font Connection // Your typographic soulmate is out there waiting for you. Find them with our quiz!
I Love Hue // A gradient organizing app that provides visual tranquility
Meow Wolf // Fantastic immersive realms of story and exploration // Follow on Instagram: @meow__wolf
Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) // For all things UX // Follow on Instagram: @nngux
NYT Games // Relax and get your brain working at the same time
Smithsonian Transcription Center // Participate in history by volunteering to transcribe for the Smithsonian digital archives
The Futur // A podcast exploring the overlap between design, marketing, and business
The New Happy // Using art to teach you the science of happiness // Follow on Instagram: @newhappyco
“When I had stressful moments ahead of me, I would review The New Happy’s Monday Motivation Instagram posts to prepare me for the week. Years later I still find each post—through the exclusive use of simple shapes and colors—shifts my perspective toward being more optimistic, gracious, and creative.”
What’s your type? // See how fonts change the way you read content and pick your favorite
As we wrap up this review of the tools that have shaped our work and play over the past year, we’re eager to continue exploring, discovering new tools, forging innovative paths, and creating meaningful connections.
