Desk of Tobias von Schneider

The unexamined life is not worth living — From the Desk of van Schneider — Edition №259

Last week I wrote about "Style is the answer to everything", a short personal meditation on style and a subtle nod to one of my favorite poems by Charles Bukowski. If you missed it, I highly recommend you read it. You can now read it here on my

by Tobias van Schneider

Passive designer phrases we should eliminate from our vocabulary

Despite their uselessness, these colloquialisms are pervasive among the creative community.

by Tobias van Schneider

7 pieces of portfolio advice from 7 years of running Semplice

In honor of Semplice’s 7th birthday, we’re sharing some of the best portfolio lessons we’ve learned over the years.

by Surya Anand

Inspiring online portfolios launched in July 2021

Every week, we handpick two portfolios created with Semplice to feature in our Showcase. Now we've selected the best of the best, the top design portfolios featured in the Showcase this month.

by Tobias van Schneider

How I use mymind on a daily basis

When you’ve been using it for a little while, you start to notice it: mymind shapes itself to you, your workflow and the way your actual mind works.

by Tobias van Schneider

The experienced designer's unsaid rules for getting work done

It may not be common advice, but with time, every designer learns this is the only way to manage creative work.

by Surya Anand

The counterintuitive phrase that changed how I work

This is part of a series of articles I've been writing to document my apprenticeship here at HOVS.

by Zoe

How to make a 3D design portfolio in 15 minutes with Carbonmade

To spend the time perfecting every detail of your 3D designs – the texture, lighting, color and more – only to show it off in a poorly designed, outdated portfolio? Makes no sense!

by Tobias van Schneider

Dear young designer

Dear young designer, If you feel like your designs are more like strung-together hacks, you’re on the right path. If you’re waiting on feedback from your creative director, don’t wait. Keep exploring other options. Move on to the next task. Never sit around. If you want to