1. Trying out Sketch

    Sketch is a professional vector graphics app. I used Sketch for one week on one project to see if it’s really powerful and worth using everyday.

    I have to say that I am really attached to Adobe Creative Suite. Most of the time I use combination of Photoshop and Illustrator. I started using Fireworks multiple times (because a lot of people recommended it) but I never really liked it (and fortunately newer versions won’t be released).

    Sketch is actually similar to Fireworks, but still much much more simple to use, faster and it doesn’t crash 5x per hour.

    You can download Sketch here. 

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    Starting point

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    Likes

    Artboards

    You can create as many as you want. Having all of them in one place makes it is easier to correct the design, move layers from one artboard to another, etc.

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    You can quickly add new artboard by selecting presets available in the toolbar (perhaps iOS screens, …).

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    Layer icons

    Every layer has its own little icon (for different shapes). Useful.

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    Masks

    Choose one shape, click “Use as a mask” and everything above the mask layer will be masked.

    It is recommended that you group the layers, unless things can get chaotic.

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    Pasting/Copying styles

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    Styling buttons

    Fast & easy. I miss some additional “Blending options” from Photoshop.

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    Copying CSS attributes 

    Sketch can create CSS declarations for the borders, fills, gradients, shadows and text styles used in the selected objects. Awesome feature.

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    Missing features

    There are a lot of differences between Sketch and Photoshop/Fireworks, but maybe this is just a matter of habit. It wouldn’t even be fair to judge it after 7 days of use.

    History

    I really like Photoshops’s History Palette. It would be really cool to see the list of last performed actions in Sketch too, because it takes a lot of time to click Undo or press multiple times CMD + Z.

    Try it.

    Designers, you should download it and test it. You will be surprised. 

    I think that we are moving in the right direction for getting UI design-focussed application.

  2. I firmly believe in small gestures: pay for their coffee, hold the door for strangers, over tip, smile or try to be kind even when you don’t feel like it, pay compliments, chase the kid’s runaway ball down the sidewalk and throw it back to him, try to be larger than you are— particularly when it’s difficult. People do notice, people appreciate. I appreciate it when it’s done to (for) me. Small gestures can be an effort, or actually go against our grain (“I’m not a big one for paying compliments…”), but the irony is that almost every time you make them, you feel better about yourself. For a moment life suddenly feels lighter, a bit more Gene Kelly dancing in the rain.

  3. And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.

    Haruki Murakami

  4. Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.

    Frida Kahlo

  5. I do not seek, I find.

    Pablo Picasso

  6. Because a true sense of purpose is deeply emotional, it serves as a compass to guide us to act in a way completely consistent with our values and beliefs. Purpose does not need to involve calculations or numbers. Purpose is about the quality of life. Purpose is human, not economic

    Simon Sinek

  7. what-is-zen:

    Maybe So, Maybe Not

    One day, a farmer’s horse ran away. His neighbors expressed sympathy, “What terrible luck that you lost your horse!”
    The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”

    A few days later, the horse returned, leading several wild horses. The neighbors said, “Your horse has returned, and brought more with him. What great fortune!”
    The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”

    Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the wild horses and got thrown to the ground, breaking his leg. The villagers cried, “Your son broke his leg, what a calamity!”
    The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”

    A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, conscripting all the able-bodied young men for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son because of his broken leg. Neighbours shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!”
    To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.

  8. explore-blog:

    What are we here for if not to enjoy life eternal, solve what problems we can, give light, peace and joy to our fellow-man, and leave this dear fucked-up planet a little healthier than when we were born.

    Henry Miller on the mystery of the universe and the meaning of life

    (Source: )

  9. I love Gmail, but … there is always room for some improvements. 

    I am staring at Settings. Everything is so close together.

    I love your clean & minimalistic UI, but I think you should improve Settings subpages.

    I just wanted to show you power of 20 pixels.

    Yours truly, user

  10. Fun lettering app. Available here. 

  11. I love it.

    Freedom by Andro Kajzer.

  12. The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.

    Jordan Belfort 

  13. Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.

    Vincent Van Gogh

  14. Never ignore a person who loves you, cares for you, and misses you. Because one day, you might wake up from your sleep and realize that you lost the moon while counting the stars.

    Nico Lang (via jennielikespie)

    (Source: onlinecounsellingcollege, via ijustwanttobeyourgirl)

  15. Super cool illustrations. Available at “This Paper Ship.”