Design Inspiration for All

Whether you took part in the poster design challenge, jammed out to the albums we shared, or spent your downtime with a new book, we hope you found something new to tap into from last week's list.

We've got another stack of suggestions to help you start the week fresh. Maybe you'll take a virtual trip to Japan, discover how brands have shaped humanity, or find designers who inspire you. See what sticks out to you, and get creative!

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This week’s assignment

Check out Designercize, the random prompt generator that puts your skills to the test. Choose between an easy, medium, or hard level for your prompt, start the timer, and get designing! If you take part in the challenge, share your final designs on social with the tag #IsolateAndCreate!

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Get inspired

• Follow @feliciachiao on Instagram. Felicia is an industrial designer & illustrator creating some amazing pieces of art that truly capture the tone and emotions during the quarantine.
• Our featured Futur Pro Group member, Rahul Bhogal, is an award-winning graphic designer and art director at Nothing Design Studio. Learn more about Rahul's work on our alumni page, and check out our incredibly talented roster of alumni!

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Book of the week

• User Friendly by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant - Discover the hidden rules of the designed world and how they've caused our world to change.

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Pick up a new skill

• Pop into a free Harvard class online: CS50 Intro to Computer Science. Get an introduction to the roots of computer science and the art of programming.
• Designing a custom website from scratch has never been easier thanks to Ran Segall’s Flux Academy. Check out the two courses: The $10k Website Process and the Webflow Masterclass to get started. Get 25% off the Webflow Masterclass with the code FRIENDS-OF-FUTUR.

Mockups and more

• Malli Graphics houses free, high-quality PSD mockups carefully handpicked by designers across the globe. Spruce up your case studies and they way you present your work.
• If you design logos or identity systems, check out The Logo Package. This tool is used to export every possible iteration of your logo. And through the entire month of April, you can save 25% when you use the code home at checkout.
• Download our virtual backgrounds and host your next Zoom meeting at The Futur HQ! Virtually step into livestream studio 2, the infamous poster room, the podcast sofa, or your favorite area of our office.

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Listen while you work

Music we’re loving:

• This Chill House playlist on Apple Music has 70 tracks filled with breezy melodies, laidback beats, and sun-kissed moods. Follow this playlist as it's regularly updated with new songs!
• The Coffee Break Session playlist from My Analog Journal on YouTube features vinyl sets inspired by the music around the globe.

Podcasts we recommend:

• This cutdown of Debbie Millman's TED Talk gives us great insight into the true power of brands.
• Listen to Tim Ferriss' conversation with Jack Kornfield on how to find calm during chaos, and find peace with the current situation around the globe.

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What to watch

For your entertainment:

• The Oscar-winning phenomenon, Parasite, is now available to stream on Hulu. Weekend movie night = settled.
• Find out how to cook your favorite junk food gourmet style with Bon Appetit's foodie-favorite YouTube series: Gourmet Makes.

Or, if you want to learn something:

• Follow journalist John Daub as he walks the streets of popular Japanese cities and shares the unique history, culture, art, and foods of each location on his wildly popular YouTube channel: Only in Japan.

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Meals to try this week

These easy, go-to meals contain ingredients you might already have at home:

• Breakfast - The Simple But Good Breakfast Bowl
• Lunch - Best-Ever Tuna Melt
• Dinner - Easy Chicken Curry
• Bonus - If you find the gourmet version of your favorite sweet treat from Gourmet Makes, give the recipe a try for yourself at home!

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Lend a helping hand

• Want to support local businesses? Check out this article from Shopify to learn how you can help keep local businesses afloat from a distance.
• With all this time spent at home, why not foster a dog from your local animal shelter? There's nothing quite like having an adorable, furry friend to play with at the end of the day.

Move your body

• If you live in an apartment, you can do these no-jumping cardio exercises at home without infuriating your neighbors.
• Work out with world-class celebrity trainers on the Centr app. Get your first 7 days free, and get access to a variety of workouts, meal planning ideas, and guided meditations.

And finally, a quote to keep in mind throughout the week

"Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later." — Og Mandino

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