Self-Love for Creatives and How I Made a Digital Vintage Photobooth

Hi friends! 🌷

February is here! Some people say that the actual new year starts on February and that January is just a warm up. And I totally agree with that!

In honor of love month, I wanna touch on our love for our craft. We creatives pour a lot of ourselves in our work, right?

Like any romantic relationship, it takes a lot of patience and hard work to nurture it.

There may be bumps in the road, but by taking care of ourselves, we’re able to show up as our best, most inspired selves. 💖 We can’t pour from an empty cup, right?

Some self-love tips for creatives:

1. Make something just for you — not for clients, not for potential managers, just something you love. even if it’s silly and no one sees it (Maybe my template below could even be a fun start 😉)

2. Romanticize your creative routine — I find that changing my desktop wallpaper and getting fresh flowers weekly really switch things up for me, especially since I’m in front of my computer all day. Check out my 2024 wallpaper roundup!

3. Permission to pause — it’s not all about output I realized…sometimes taking time to take in inspiration is also important, like watching an old film or looking at vintage magazines. The best ideas are never forced!

And since we’re all about love today, I made something — I recreated a vintage photo booth! It’s the cutest Valentine’s gift ever, for your partner or friends. Check it out!

@meshtimes

each of my loved ones getting a link this year 💌 all done in figma prototyping!

Just launched my tutorials on how I prototyped it + how you can use my template! They’re here below. ☺️

But before that, I’ve rounded up really cool design tools and interesting design trends, so you can stay inspired.

Added two more tidbits for some extras — my V-day present for y’all! Thank you for the love you’ve shown these past months!

〰️ How cursors can be so much more than what we’re used to
〰️ Finally, design philosophies made more accessible
〰️ App motion design inspo

☁️ news & trends

Let’s nerd out about cursors! 
Have you ever thought about how our humble cursor has evolved? This article dives into this transformation, highlighting how tools like Figma and even video games are turning cursors into dynamic, interactive elements that enhance our design experience. It's a must-read to see how these innovations can inspire your own creative journey!

Here’s why designers shouldn’t forget sound 👂
Designers craft experiences — and that includes sound, yet we often overlook it and its overall impact on the user experience. Turns out, those beeps and buzzes can make or break how users feel about our products. Let's dive in and see how we can make our designs not only look good but sound amazing too!

Designing AI to be more…human
What a lot of good AI services do is make their design more personal and intuitive. It’s all about blending AI's intelligence with a human touch — giving users control, personalizing experiences, and building trust. This is a must-read to keep your designs both cutting-edge and heartwarming!

🪐 launches & tools

The design “-isms” visually explained
Ever felt imposter syndrome because you don’t know much about design philosophies? “Determinism” “Existentialism” What are those? This designer simplifies these into sleek, minimalist visuals, turning abstract concepts into beautiful, easy-to-digest graphics. Bookmark this for a cheat sheet!

A no-fuss way to replace all the "skew" plugins in Figma
As someone who's wasted way too many hours fiddling with Figma plugins to get that perfect skew effect, ContentCore feels like a total game-changer! Not only can you easily create those cool, aesthetic angles for your images, but it works on videos too.

Where I get app motion design inspo!
Okay, let me put you onto something that's been my absolute favorite animation inspo source lately! AppMotion is like having a cozy little library of gorgeous app animations right at your fingertips, perfect for when you're stuck on how to make that transition feel just right - and the best part? It's totally free!

🌼 How I made the digital vintage photobooth

There’s something so fun and nostalgic about old-school photo booths—the ones where you’d squeeze in with your friends, strike a pose, and walk away with a strip of memories. 📸

I actually went to a photobooth museum with my friend recently, and it got me thinking…

What if I could turn that physical experience into a digital one? Imagine being able to create and send a virtual photobooth strip to your loved ones this Valentine’s Day, no matter where they are.

Because let’s be real—V-Day isn’t just about romantic partners. It’s about celebrating all kinds of love, whether it’s for your besties, your family, or even just yourself. 💌

Here’s how I designed it:

Or if you’re just starting out on designing, you can use the Figma template I made! It’s super easy to use. Check out this tutorial:

I hope this prototype brings you and your loved ones a lot of joy this Valentine’s Day (or any special occasion really!)

🍡 You guys made this

The way everyone puts their own spin on the template is unreal—some go editorial, some nostalgic. If you make one, tag me @meshtimes—I’d love to see it!

Check out @tsabita & @hi_gaal

🖋️ Pen before pixel

Here’s a peek into my sketchbook. Tip: start messy! don’t jump into software right away.

🛝 Ideas that didn’t make it

One concept I played around with was a heart-shaped locket where people could add a photo and a message inside—just like a real locket. It didn’t quite make the cut but was still fun to explore.

🌱Reader spotlight

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See you on the internet 🌐,

Marisa | @meshtimes