Desk of Tobias von Schneider

Why are strangers more excited about your idea than your own friends?
by Tobias van Schneider

Why are strangers more excited about your idea than your own friends?

Have you ever noticed strangers are more receptive and excited about your ideas than your own family or friends? Maybe you feel like you have to pitch harder to your close circles than anyone else, or that your close friends don't take you seriously enough.
Banner
Banner

Most Popular

1
When did our tools become our religion?
2
The last house standing
3
"You've been banned."
4
I will never ask you to do anything I wouldn’t do myself
5
The portfolio case study is broken

Popular Topics

Design
Productivity
Self-Improvement
Personal
Products
Life Lessons
NTMY Show
Psychology
Product Reviews
Photography
Career Advice
Portfolio Tips
Product/Business
Virtual Reality
Mix Tapes
Freelance Life
Moving to NYC
UX Writing
Interviews
supported by semplice powered by Ghost
A digital tool built like a physical product?
by Tobias van Schneider

A digital tool built like a physical product?

Does it seem like there's more bad TV these days? More mediocre writing? More low quality clothing?
Why all designers should do customer support
by Tobias van Schneider

Why all designers should do customer support

With every product and company I've built, I’ve always personally helped with customer support. When we first started, I didn’t have much choice. In a small business, everyone does everything.
How to make a minimalist portfolio with Carbonmade
by Zoe

How to make a minimalist portfolio with Carbonmade

You don't need anything too fancy. You don't want to work for hours on your site.
When our persona becomes our prison
by Tobias van Schneider

When our persona becomes our prison

You stand out online by having a “thing.” A certain style, a specific voice, a schtick or a skill that catches the eye of a few people and eventually snowballs you into notoriety.
The illusion of productivity
by Tobias van Schneider

The illusion of productivity

"Productivity" is dead.
When good is no longer good enough
by Tobias van Schneider

When good is no longer good enough

It wasn’t long ago I’d see a 3D rendering or piece of highly detailed art and feel blown away.
Breaking the algorithm
by Tobias van Schneider

Breaking the algorithm

The world wants to tell you what to think about, what to be interested in, what to learn, what to pursue, what to worry about. And it's easier to let it.
The best designers are artists
by Tobias van Schneider

The best designers are artists

As a young designer, I would have done everything to convince you that designers are not artists.
Tutorial: How to make an illustration & animation portfolio with Carbonmade
by Zoe

Tutorial: How to make an illustration & animation portfolio with Carbonmade

Some portfolios look so good, you can't imagine how they did it. They must have hired a developer and worked for hours on the design.
What makes me a designer?
by Tobias van Schneider

What makes me a designer?

This question crossed my mind enough times recently that I went into the DESK archives to find my own answer. To my surprise, there wasn’t one. I’ve never written about it, not until today.
More Articles

Latest in Design

The best designers are artists
by Tobias van Schneider

The best designers are artists
What makes me a designer?
by Tobias van Schneider

What makes me a designer?
When did our tools become our religion?
by Tobias van Schneider

When did our tools become our religion?
On finding your niche
by Tobias van Schneider

On finding your niche
Give me the boring design jobs
by Tobias van Schneider

Give me the boring design jobs
Where are our design heroes?
by Tobias van Schneider

Where are our design heroes?
An unsolicited portfolio review featuring creative practice, With Conviction
by Tobias van Schneider

An unsolicited portfolio review featuring creative practice, With Conviction
Beautiful portfolios launched with Semplice in January 2022
by Surya Anand

Beautiful portfolios launched with Semplice in January 2022
Read more on design

They said you can't build a portfolio in only an hour.

PROVE THEM WRONG

Semplice Supply

The only wireframing kit you’ll ever need.

SEE WHAT'S INSIDE

Semplice Supply

Mockups that look better than real life.

GET THE PACK

Latest in Productivity

"You've been banned."
by Tobias van Schneider

"You've been banned."
Why we built an anti-social tool
by Tobias van Schneider

Why we built an anti-social tool
The inspiration lie
by Tobias van Schneider

The inspiration lie
One video, article or side project can change your life
by Tobias van Schneider

One video, article or side project can change your life
How I use mymind on a daily basis
by Tobias van Schneider

How I use mymind on a daily basis
The experienced designer's unsaid rules for getting work done
by Tobias van Schneider

The experienced designer's unsaid rules for getting work done
The hack for self-discipline you learned as a child
by Tobias van Schneider

The hack for self-discipline you learned as a child
Where do I even begin?
by Tobias van Schneider

Where do I even begin?
Read more on productivity

© 2021 House of van Schneider LLC
All rights reserved.

semplice
semplice supply
cc_banner
hovs_badge