🌷 The magic of sharing your unfinished work

Dear fellow perfectionist,

Today, I found myself staring at my screen again. The tension between me and the Publish button was unbearable. 😩

“It’s not ready yet.”

I’ve said this line to myself more times than I can count.

It reminded me of when I was job hunting after college.

My portfolio just sat there... untouched, unpublished, quietly collecting dust in my drafts folder.

I kept saying, “just a few more tweaks.” (Spoiler: There were always more tweaks.)

It took a mentor telling me to just share my portfolio on Twitter/X.

“It doesn't matter if it's not ready,” she said. “What matters is that people see how you think.”

And she was right.

That unpolished portfolio? It got me multiple phone screens! 🙏 

More importantly, it led me to actual feedback from real hiring managers—stuff that helped me improve waaay more than tweaking in silence ever did.

So if you’re waiting for your project to be perfect before you share it... maybe this is your sign.

Make it exist first, you can always make it look good later. Done is better than perfect.

And you’re allowed to grow in public. ♥

Over the years, I've been practicing this 'done is better than perfect' mindset:

• When I shared my White Lotus-inspired language learning app

• When I asked Twitter for help with my photobooth app animation issues

It doesn’t get easier overtime, but you just have to put your self out there — your messy thoughts, unpolished work, vulnerabilities and all.

If you follow me, you may have seen my post on my language learning app.

My perfectionist tendencies did not help at all. 🙃 But had to publish it.

And boy did I have the SURPRISE OF MY LIFE. Something major happened and I’ll tell you in a bit.

For now, let’s look into some useful tools and trends I stumbled upon online—check out these gems from this week!

〰️ A new perspective in how we see AI
〰️ iOS 19 design updates
〰️ Cool new Canva tools that will be gamechangers

☁️ news & trends

We control AI, not the other way around
Love this read —such a good reminder that in the AI age, we’re not just making tools, we’re designing “workbenches” or structured interfaces that guide AI. We don’t just just react to it.

Microsoft’s guide on designing for AI interfaces
Know how to design user experience that supports users like a good assistant—clear, respectful, and human-centered. Here’s a checklist.

🪐 launches & tools

Students, this is your sign to use AI (more)
College students in the U.S. and Canada can enjoy two months of ChatGPT Plus at no cost through May 31. Features include advanced voice mode, document uploads, and enhanced research tools.

A big jump in iOS 19’s design updates?
iOS 19 is rumored to introduce a glass-like interface, rounder icons, and dynamic animations inspired by visionOS. They’re mostly subtle but designers, if you know you know. 😉 

Wait, you can code on Canva now?
Plus, spreadsheets, AI-powered design, and insight mining . Design, code, write, and edit everything in one place for your marketing collaterals. Check it out!

🌼 Watch me build step-by-step (+tips)

Want to see exactly what went into creating a language app? I just posted a behind-the-scenes video showing my entire process—messy code, design iterations, late-night debugging sessions and all:

This video itself was another exercise in showing my work before I felt it was "perfect." There were parts where I stumbled, sections I would have edited differently, but I decided to share it anyway because done is better than perfect!

And then something wild happened—

BBC reached out to interview me. (me!!?? still processing)

All because I decided to share something that wasn't 'perfect' yet. Imagine if I had waited...

There’s something kind of beautiful about learning out loud.

And I know that’s where the real growth happens.

So here’s to messy first tries, and sharing the process before it’s polished.

I’ll keep you posted. 😌

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See you on the internet 🌐,

Marisa | @meshtimes